both returned to great estate and credite 7. Nouell THe Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeares happened into the custodie of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father she went to the said king of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first she was intended to be his Wife 8. Nouell COunt D'Angiers being falsely accused was banished out of France and left his two children in England in diuers places Returning afterward vnknowne thorough Scotland hee found them aduanced vnto great dignity Then repairing in the habit of a Seruitor into the King of Fraunce his army and his innocency made publikely knowen he was reseated in his former honorable degree 9. Nouell BErnardo a Merchant of Geneway being deceiued by another Merchant named Ambrosio lost a great part of his goods and commanding his innocent wife to be murthered she escaped and in the habit of a man became seruant to the Soldan The deceiuer being found at last she coÌ„passed such means that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria and there after due punishment inflicted on the false deceiuer she resumed the garments againe of a woman and returned home with her Husband to Geneway 10. Nouell PAgamino da Monaco a rouing Pyrate on the feas caried away the faire Wife of Signieur Ricciardo di Chiâ—zica who vnderstanding where shee was went thâ—ther and falling into friendship with Pagamino demanded his wife of him wherto be yeelded prouided that she would willingly go away with him shee denied to part thence with her husband and 〈◊〉 Ricciardo dying shee became the wife of Pagamino The third day gouerned by Madame Neiphila 1. Nouell MAssetto di Lamporechio by counterfetting himselfe dumbe became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nuns where he had familiar conuersation with them all 2. Nouell A Querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo K of the Lombards found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bedde without any knowledge or consent in her This beeing secretly discouered by the King and the party knowne hee gaue him a marke by shearing the haire of his head Whereuppon hee that was so shorne sheared likewise the heads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escaped the punishment intended towards him 3. Nouell VNder colour of confession and of a most pure coÌ„science a faire yong Gentlewoman being amorously affected to an honest man induced a deuout and solemne religious Friar to aduise her in the meanes without his suspition or perceiuing how to enioy the benefit of her friend and bring her desires to their full effect 4. Nouell A Yong scholler named Felice enstructed Puccio di Rinieri how to become rich in a very short time While Puccio made experience of the instructions taught him Felice obtained the fauour of his daughter 5. Nouell RIcciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a horse to signior Francesco Vergillisi vpon condition that by his leaue and license he might speak to his wife in his presence which he did and she not returning him any answer made answer to himself on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed 6. Nouell RIcciardo Minutolo fel in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to bee very iealous of her husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamored of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuatly in a bathing house on the next day following where shee hoping to take him tardy with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo 7. Nouelâ— THebaldo Elisei hauing receiued an vnkinde repulse by his beloued departed from Florence returning thither againe a long while after in the habit of a pilgrime hee spake with her and made his wrongs knowne vnto her Hee deliuered her husband from the danger of death because it was proued that he had slaine Thebaldo he made peace with his brethren and in the end wisely enioyed his hearts desire 8. Nouell FErando by drinking a certaine kind of pouder was buried for dead by the Abbot who was enamored of his wife was taken out of his graue and put into a darke prison where they made him beleeue that he was in purgatory afterward wheÌ„ time came that he should be raised to life againe he was made to keepe a childe which the Abbot had got by his wife 9. Nouell IVliet of Narbona cured the King of France of a dangerous Fistula in recompence wherof she requested to enioy as her husband in mariage Bertrand the Count of Roussilion He hauing maried her against his wil as vtterly despising her went to Florence where he made loue to a yong Gentlewoman Iuliet by a queint and cunning policy compassed the meanes insted of his chosen friend to lye with her owne husband by whom shee had two sonnes which being afterward made knowne vnto the Count hee accepted her into his fauor againe and loued her as his loyall and honourable wife 10. Nouell THe wonderfull and chaste resolued continencie of faire Serictha daughter to Siwalde King of Denmarke who beeing sought and sued vnto by many worthy persons that did affect her dearely would not looke any man in the face vntill such time as she was maried The Fourth Day gouerned by Philostratus 1. Nouell TAncrede Prince of Salern caused the amorous friend of his daughter to be slaine and sent her his heart in a cup of Golde which afterward she steeped in an impoysoned water then drinking it so dyed 2. Nouell FRiar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in disguise of the same God afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends hee cast himselfe out of her chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans house On the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of S. Mark being ther publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to prison 3. Nouell THree yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fled with them into Canâ—â—e The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of 〈◊〉 request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne friend killeth her thence flyeth away with the elder sister The third couple both man and woman are charged with her death and being committed to prison they coÌ„fesse the fact and fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their â—eepers escaping froÌ„ thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty 4. Nouell GErbino contrarie to the former plighted faith of his Grandfather King Gulielmo foughte with a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away hi daughter who was then in the same ship She being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
a man in the skin of a Beare or in the shape of a sauage man or any other forme of better deuice Which being so done he is brought vpon S. Marks market place where being hunted a while with dogs vpon the huntings conclusion the Feast is ended and then each man leades his monster whether him pleaseth If you can accept any of these shapes before you bee seene heere in my poore abiding then can I safely afterward bring you where you would bee Otherwise I see no possible meanes how you may escape hence vnknown for it is without all question to the contrary that the Gentlewomans brethren knowing your concealment in some one place or other wil set such spies and watches for you throughout the City as you must needs be taken by them Now although it seemed a most seuere imposition for Albert to passe in any of these disguises yet his exceeding feare of Lisettaes brethren and friends made him gladly yeelde and to vndergo what shape the poore man pleased which thus he ordered Annointing his naked body with Hony he then couered it ouer with downy small Feathers and fastning a chaine about his necke and a strange vgly vizard on his face hee gaue him a great staffe in the one hand and two huge Mastiue dogs chained together in the other which he had borrowed in the Butchery Afterward he sent a man to the Rialto who there proclaimed by the sound of Trumpet That all such as desired to see God Cupid which the last night had descended downe from the skies and fell by ill hap into the Venetian gulfe let them repaire to the publike Market place of S. Marke and there he would appeare in his owne likenesse This being done soone after he left his house and leading him thus disguised along by his chaine hee was followed by great crowds of people euery one questioning of whence and what he was In which manner he brought him to the Market place where an infinite number of people were gathered together as well of the followers as of them that before heard the proclamation There he made choise of a pillar which stood in a place somewhat highly exalted wherto he chained his sauage man making shew as if he meant to awaite there till the hunting shold begin in which time the Flies Waspes and Hornets did so terribly sting his naked body being annointed with Hony that he endured therby vnspeakable anguish When the poore man saw that there needed no more concourse of people pretending as if he purposed to let loose his Saluage man he tooke the maske or vizard from Alberts face and then he spake aloud in this manner Gentlemen and others seeing the wilde Boare commeth not to our hunting because I imagine that he cannot easily be found I meane to the end you may not lose your labour in comming hither to shew you the great God of Loue called Cupid whom Poets feigned long since to be a little boy but now growne to manly stature You see in what maner he hath left his high dwelling onely for the comfort of our Venetian beauties but belike the night-fogs ouer-flagging his wings he fell into our gulfe and comes ow to present his seruice to you No sooner had he taken off his vizard but euery one knew him to be Friar Albert and sodainly arose such shoutes and out-cries with most bitter words breathed forth against him hurling also stones durt and filth in his face that his best acquaintance then could take no knowledge of him and not any one pittying his abusing So long continued the offended people in their fury that newes therof was carried to the Conuent and six of his Religious brethren came who casting an habite about him and releasing him from his chain they led him to the Monastery not without much mollestation and trouble of the people where imprisoning him in their house seueritie of some inflicted punishment or rather conceite for his open shame shortned his dayes and so he dyed Thus you see faire Ladies when licentious life must be clouded with a cloake of sanctity and euill actions dayly committed yet escaping vncredited there will come a time at length for iust discouering of all that the good may shine in their true luster of glory and the bad sinke in their owne deserued shame Three yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fledde with them into Candie The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of Candies request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne Friend killeth her and thence flyeth away with the elder Sister The third couple both man woman are charged with her death and being committed prisoners they confesse the facte And fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their keepers escaping from thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty The third Nouell Heerein is declared how dangerous the occasion is ensuing by anger and despight in such as entirely loue especially being iniuried and offended by them that they loue WHen the King perceiued that Madame Pampinea had ended her discourse he sat sadly a prety while without vttering one word but afterward spake thus Little goodnesse appeared in the beginning of this Nouell because it ministred occasion of mirth yet the ending proued better and I could wish that worse inflictions had falne on the venerious Friar Then turning towards Madam Lauretta he said Lady do you tell vs a better tale if possible it may be She smiling thus answered the King Sir you are ouer-cruelly bent against poore Louers in desisiring that their amourous processions should haue harsh and sinister concludings Neuerthelesse in obedience to your seuere command among three persons amourously perplexed I will relate an vnhappy ending whereas all may be saide to speede as vnfortunately being equally alike in enioying the issue of their desires and thus I purpose for to proceede Euery vice choise Ladies as very well you know redoundeth to the great disgrace and preiudice of him or her by whom it is practised and oftentimes to others Now among those common hurtfull enemies the sinne or vice which most carrieth vs with full carrere and draweth vs into vnauoidable perils and dangers in mine opinion seemeth to be that of choller or anger which is nothing else but a sudden and inconsiderate mouing prouoked by some receiued iniury which hauing excluded all respect of reason and dimde with darke vapours the bright discerning sight of the vnderstanding enflameth the minde with most violent furie And albeit this inconuenience happeneth most to men and more to some few then others yet notwithstanding it hath been noted that women haue felt the selfe same infirmity and in more extreme manner because it much sooner is kindled in them and burneth with the brighter flame in regard they haue the lesser consideration and therefore not to be wondred at For if we will aduisedly obserue we shall plainely perceiue that
that after the death of Fredericke the second Emperour one named Manfred was crowned King of Sicilie about whom liued in great account and authority a Neapolitane Gentleman called Henriet Capece who had to Wife a beautifull Gentlewoman and a Neapolitane also named Madam Beritola Caracalla This Henriet held the gouernment of the Kingdome of Sicilie and vnderstanding that King Charles the first had wonne the battle at Beneuentum and slaine King Maufred the whole Kingdome reuolting also to his deuotion and little trust to be reposed in the Sicillians or he willing to subiect himselfe to his Lords enemy prouided for his secret flight from thence But this being discouered to the Sicillians he and many more who had beene loyall seruants to King Manfred were suddenly taken and imprisoned by King Charles and the sole possession of the Iland confirmed to him Madam Beritola not knowing in so sudden and strange an alteration of State affaires what was become of her Husband fearing also greatly before those inconueniences which afterward followed being ouercome with many passionate considerations hauing left and forsaken all her goods going aboard a small Barke with a Sonne of hers aged about some eight yeeres named Geoffrey and growne great with childe with another shee fled thence to Lipary where shee was brought to bed of another Sonne whom shee named answerable both to his and her hard fortune The poore expelled Hauing prouided her selfe of a Nurse they altogether went aboard againe setting sayle for Naples to visit her Parents but it chanced quite contrary to her expectation because by stormie windes and weather the vessell being bound for Naples was hurried to the I le of Ponzo where entring into a small Port of the Sea they concluded to make their aboade till a time more furtherous should fauour their voyage As the rest so did Madam Boritola goe on shore in the Iland where hauing found a separate and solitary place fit for her silent and sad meditations secretly by her selfe shee sorrowed for the absence of her husband Resorting daily to this her sad exercise and continuing there her complaints vnseene by any of the Marriners or whosoeuer else there arriued suddenly a Galley of Pyrates who seazing on the small Barke carried it and all the rest in it away with them When Beritola had finished her wofull complaints as daily shee was accustomed to doe shee returned backe to her children againe but finding no person there remaining whereat she wondered not a little immediately suspecting what had happened indeede she lent her lookes on the Sea and saw the Galley which as yet had not gone farre drawing the smaller vessell after her Heereby plainly she perceyued that now she had lost her children as formerly shee had done her husband being left there poore forsaken and miserable not knowing when where or how to finde any of them againe and calling for her husband and children shee fell downe in a swound vppon the shore Now was not any body neere with coole water or any other remedy to helpe the recouery of her lost powers wherefore her spirites might the more freely wander at their own pleasure but after they were returned backe againe and had won their wonted offices in her body drowned in teares and wringing her hands shee did nothing but call for her children and husband straying all about in hope to finde them seeking in Caues Dennes and euery where else that presented the verie least glimpse of comfort But when she saw all her paines sort to no purpose and darke night drawing swiftly on hope and dismay raising infinit perturbations made her yet to be somewhat respectiue of her selfe therefore departing from the sea-shore he returned to the solitary place where she vsed to sigh and mourne alone by her selfe The night being ouer-past with infinite feares and affrights bright day saluting the world againe with the expence of nine hours and more she fell to her former fruitlesse trauailes Being somewhat sharply bitten with hunger because the former day and night shee hadde not tasted any food she made therefore a benefit of necessity and fed on the green heaâ—bes so well as she could notwithout many piercing afflictions what should become of her in this extraordinary misery As shee walked in these pensiue meditations she saw a Goate enter into a Caue and within a while after come forth againe wandering along thorow the woods Whereupon she stayed and entred where she saw the beast issue forth where she found two yong Kids yeaned as it seemed the selfesame day which sight was very pleasing to her and nothing in that distresse could more content her As yet she had milke freshly running in both her brests by reason of her so late deliuery in child-bed wherefore shee lay downe vnto the two yong Kids and taking them tenderly in her armes suffered each of them to sucke a teate whereof they made not any refusall but tooke them as louingly as their dammes and from that time forward they made no distinguishing betweene their damme and her Thus this vnfortunate Lady hauing found some company in this solitary desert fed on hearbes roots drinking faire running water and weeping silently to her selfe so often as she remembred her husband children and former dayes past in much better maner Here shee resolued now to liue and dye being at last depriued both of the damme and yonger Kids also by theyr wandering further into the neere adioyning Woods according to their Naturall inclinations whereby the poore distressed Lady became more sauage and wilde in her daily conditions then otherwise shee would haue bene After many monthes were ouer-passed at the very same place where she tooke landing by chance there arriued another small vessell of certaine Pisans which remained there diuers dayes In this Bark was a Gentleman named Conrado de Marchesi Malespini with his holy and vertuous wife who were returned backe from a Pilgrimage hauing visited all the sanctified places that then were in the Kingdome of Apulia now were bound homeward to their owne abiding This Gentleman for the expelling of melancholy perturbations one especiall day amongst other with his wife seruants and waiting hounds wandered vp into the Iland not far from the place of Madam Beritolaes desert dwelling The hounds questing after game at last happened on the two Kiddes where they were feeding and by this time had attained to indifferent growth and finding themselues thus pursued by the hounds fled to no other part of the wood then to the Caue where Beritola remained and seeming as if they sought to be rescued only by her she sodainly caught vp a staffe and forced the hounds thence to flight By this time Conrado and his wife who had followed closely after the hounds was come thither and seeing what had hapned looking on the Lady who was become blacke swarthy meager and hairy they wondered not a little at her and she a great deale more at them When vpon her reqâ—est Conrado had
very least mitigation And being vtterly vnable to relinquish his loue diuers times he resolued on some desperate conclusion which might yet giue the world an euident testimony that he dyed for the loue he bare to the Queene And vpon this determination hee grounded the successe of his future fortune to dye in compassing some part of his desire without either speaking to the Queene or sending any missiue of his loue for to speake or write were meerely in vaine and drew on a worser consequence then death which he could bestow on himselfe more easily and when he listed No other course now beleagers his braines but onely for secret accesse to the Queenes bed and how he might get entrance into her Chamber vnder colour of the King who as he knew very well slept manie nights together from the Queene Wherefore to see in what manner what the vsuall habit was of the King when he came to keepe companie vvith his Queene he hid himselfe diuers nights in a Gallery which was betweene both their lodging Chambers At length he saw the King come forth of his Chamber himselfe all alone with a faire night-mantle wrapt about him carrying a lighted Taper in the one hand and a small white Wand in the other so went he on to the Queenes lodging and knocking at the doore once or twice with the wand and not vsing any word the doore opened the light was left without and he entered the Chamber where he stayed not long before his returning backe againe which likewise very diligently he obserued So familiar was he in the Wardrobe by often fetching and returning the King and Queenes furnitures that the fellowe to the same Mantle which the King wore when he went to the Queene very secretly he conueighed away thence with him being prouided of a Light and the verie like Wand Now bestowes he costly bathings on his body that the least sent of the Stable might not be felt about him and finding a time sutable to his desire when he knew the King to be at rest in his owne Lodging and all else sleeping in their beds closely he steals into the Gallery where alighting his Taper with Tinder purposely brought thither the Mantle folded about him and the Wand in his hand valiantly he aduentures vpon his liues perill Twice hee knockt softly at the doore which a wayting woman immediately opened and receyuing the Light went forth into the Gallery while the supposed King was conuersing vvith the Queene Alas good Queene heere is sinne committed without any guiltie thought in thee as within a while after it plainely appeared For the Querry hauing compassed what he most couered and fearing to forfeite his life by delay when his amorous desire was indifferently satisfied returned backe as he came the sleepy waiting woman not so much as looking on him but rather glad that she might get her to rest againe Scarcely was the Querrie stept into his bed vnheard or discerned by any of his fellowes diuers of them lodging both in that and the next Chamber but it pleased the King to visite the Queene according to his wonted manner to the no little meruaile of the drowsie wayting woman who was neuer twice troubled in a night before The King being in bed whereas alwayes till then his resort to the Queene was altogether in sadnesse and melancholly both comming and departing without speaking one word now his Maiestie was become more pleasantly disposed whereat the Queene began not a little to meruaile Now trust mee Sir quoth shee this hath been a long wished and now most welcome alteration vouch-safing twice in a night to visite me and both within the compasse of one houre for it cannot be much more since your being here and now comming againe The King hearing these words sodainly presumed that by some counterfeit person or other the Queene had been this night beguiled wherefore very aduisedly hee considered that in regard the party was vnknowne to her and all the women about her to make no outward appearance of knowing it but rather concealed it to himselfe Farre from the indiscretion of some hare-braind men who presently would haue answered and sworne I came not hither this night till now Whereupon many dangers might ensue to the dishonor and preiudice of the Queene beside hir error being discouered to hir might afterward be an occasion to vrge a wandring in her appetite and to couet after change againe But by this silence no shame redounded to him or her whereas prating must needes be the publisher of open infamie yet was hee much vexed in his minde which neither by lookes or words hee would discouer but pleasantly said to the Queene Why Madame although I was once heere before to night I hope you mislike not my second seeing you nor if I should please to come againe No truely Sir quoth she I onely desire you to haue care of your health Well said the King I will follow your counsaile and now returne to mine owne lodging againe committing my Queene to her good rest His blood boyling with rage and distemper by such a monstrous iniurie offered him he wrapt his night-mantle about him and leauing his Chamber imagining that whatsoeuer he was needes he must be one of his owne house he tooke a light in his hand and conuayed it into a little Lanthorne purposing to be resolued in his suspition No guests or strangers were now in his Court but onely such as belonged to his houshold who lodged altogether about the Escurie and Stables being there appointed to diuers beds Now this was his conceite that whosoeuer had beene so lately familiar with the Queene his heart and pulse could as yet be hardly at rest but rather would be troubled with apparant agitation as discouering the guilt of so great an offender Many Chambers had hee passed thorow where all were soundly sleeping and yet he felt both their brests and pulses At last he came to the lodging of the man indeede that had so impudently vsurped his place who could not as yet sleepe for ioy of his atchieued aduenture When he espied the King come in knowing well the occasion of his search he began to waxe very doubtfull so that his heart and pulse beating extremely he felt a further addition of feare as being confidently perswaded that there was now no other way but death especially if the King discouered his agony And although many considerations were in his braine yet because he saw that the King was vnarmed his best refuge was to make shew of sleepe in expectation what the King intended to doe Among them all he had sought yet could not find any likelihood wherby to gather a grounded probability vntill he came to this Querry whose heart and pulses laboured so sternely that he said to himselfe yea mary this is the man that did the deede Neuerthelesse purposing to make no apparance of his further intention he did nothing else to him but drawing foorth a paire of
lamented Being deliuered out of the Court it was carried to buriall not like a Burgesse or ordinary Citizen but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord Baron and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen with very especiall honor and reuerence Within some few dayes after the Potestate pursuing his former motion of marriage and the Father mouing it to his daughter she wold not by any meanes listen thereto And he being desirous to giue her contentment deliuered her and her Chamber-maid into a Religious Abbey very famous for deuotion and sanctity where afterwardes they ended their liues Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what shee saw him do and thereon she dyed also in the same manner The seauenth Nouell Whereby is giuen to vnderstand that Loue Death do vse their power equally alike as well vpon poore and meane persons as on them that are rich and Noble PAmphilus hauing ended his Tale the King declaring an outward shew of compassion in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune fixed his eye on Madam Emillia and gaue her such an apparant signe as expressed his pleasure for her next succeeding in discourse which being sufficient for her vnderstanding thus she began Faire assembly the Nouel so lately deliuered by Pamphilus maketh me willing to report another to you varying from it in any kinde of resemblance onely this excepted that as Andreana lost her louer in a Garden euen so did shee of whome I am now to speake And being brought before the seate of Iustice according as Andreana was freed her selfe from the power of the Law yet neither by force or her owne vertue but by her sodaine and inopinate death And although the nature of Loue is such according as wee haue oftentimes heeretofore maintained to make his abiding in the houses of the Noblest persons yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour quality do not alwayes sit out of his reach though enclosed in their meanest Cottages declaring himselfe sometimes as powerfull a commaunder in those humble places as he doth in the richest and most imperious Palaces As will plainly appeare vnto you either in all or a great part of my Nouell whereto our Citie pleadeth some title though by the diuersity of our discourses talking of so many seuerall accidents we haue wandred into many other parts of the world to make all answerable to our owne liking It is not any long time since when there liued in our City of Florence a young and beautifull Damosell yet according to the nature of hir condition because she was the Daughter of a poore Father and called by the name of Simonida Now albeit shee was not supplied by any better meanes then to maintaine her selfe by her owne painfull trauell earne her bread before shee could eate it by carding and spinning to such as employed her yet was she not of so base or deiected a spirit but had both courage and sufficient vertue to vnderstand the secret solicitings of loue and to distinguish the parts of well deseruing both by priuate behauiour and outward ceremony As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto so wanted she not a second maine and vrging motion a chip hewed out of the like Timber one no better in birth then her selfe a proper young springall named Pasquino whose generous behauiour and gracefull actions in bringing her daily wooll to spin by reason his master was a Clothier preuailed vpon her liking and affection Nor was he negligent in the obseruation of her amorous regards but the Tinder tooke and his soule flamed with the selfe-same fire making him as desirous of her louing acceptance as possibly she could bee of his so that the commanding power of loue could not easily be distinguished in which of them it had the greater predominance For euerie day as he brought her fresh supply of woolles and found her seriously busied at hir wheele her soule would vent forth many deepe sighes and those sighes fetch floods of teares from her eyes thorough the singular good opinion she had conceyued of him and earnest desire to enioy him Pasquino on the other side as leysure gaue him leaue for the least conuersing with her his disease was euery way answerable to her for teares stood in his eyes sighes flew abroad to ease the poore hearts afflicting oppressions which though he was vnable to conceale yet would hee seeme to clowd them cleanly by entreating her that his masters worke might be nearly performed and with such speed as time would permit her intermixing infinite praises of her artificiall spinning and affirming withall that the Quilles of Yearne receiued from her were the choisest beauty of the whole peece so that when other worke-women played Simonida was sure to want no employment Heereupon the one soliciting and the other taking delight in beeing solicited it came to passe that often accesse bred the bolder courage ouer-much bashfulnesse became abandoned yet no immodestie passing betweene them but affection grew the better setled in them both by interchangeable vowes of constant perseuerance so that death onely but no disaster else had power to diuide them Their mutuall delight continuing on in this manner with more forcible encreasing of their Loues equall flame it fortuned that Pasquino sitting by Simonida tolde her of a goodly Garden whereto hee was desirous to bring her to the end that they might the more safely conuerse together without the suspition of enuious eyes Simonida gaue answer of her well-liking the motion and acquainting her Father therewith he gaue her leaue on the Sunday following after dinner to go ferch the pardon of S. Gallo and afterwards to visit the Garden A modest yong maiden named Lagina following the same profession and being an intimate familiar friend Simonida tooke along in her company and came to the Garden appointed by Pasquino where shee found him readily expecting her comming and another friend also with him called Puccino albeit more vsually tearmed Strambo a secret well-willer to Lagina whose loue became the more furthered by this friendly meeting Each Louer delighting in his hearts chosen Mistresse caused them to walke alone by themselues as the spaciousnesse of the Garden gaue them ample liberty Puccino with his Lagina in one part Pasquino with his Simonida in another The walke which they had made choise of was by a long and goodly bed of Sage turning and returning by the same bed as their conference ministred occasion and as they pleased to recreate themselues affecting rather to continue still there then in any part of the Garden One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed and afterward rise to walke againe as ease or wearinesse seemed to inuite
that my comfort may some way or other auaile the common needie yet methinkes where greefe is greatest and calamity most insulteth there ought to be our paines soundly imployed and our grauest instructions and aduise wholly administred And who can deny but that it is much more conuenient to commisserate the distresse of Ladies and Gentlewomen then the more able condition of men They as being naturally bashfull and timorous haue their soft and gentle soules often enflamed with amorous afflictions which lie there closely concealed as they can best relate the power of them that haue bin subiect to the greatest proofe Moreouer they being restrained from their wils and desires by the seuerity of Fathers Mothers Bretheren and Husbands are shut vp most part of their time in their Chambers where constrainedly sitting idle diuersity of straunge cogitations wheele vp and downe their braines forging as many seuerall imaginations which cannot be alwayes pleasant and contenting If melancholly incited by some amorous or louely apprehension oppresse their weake and vnresisting hearts they must be glad to beare it patiently til by better Fortune such occasions happen as may ouercome so proud an vsurpation Moreouer we cannot but confesse that they are lesse able then men to support such oppressions for if men grow affectionate wee plainely perceiue when any melancholly troublesome thoughts or what greefes else can any way concerne them their soules are not subiect to the like sufferings But admit they should fall into such necessity they can come and go whither they will heare and see many singular sights hawk hunt fish fowle ride or saile on the Seas all which exercises haue a particular power in themselues to withdraw amorous passions and appropriate the will to the pleasing appetite either by alteration of ayre distance of place or protraction of time to kill sorrow and quicken delight Wherefore somewhat to amend this error in humane condition and where least strength is as we see to bee in you most gracious Ladies and Gentlewomen further off then men from all fraile felicities for such as feele the weighty insultations of proud and imprious loue and therby are most in neede of comfort and not they that can handle the Needle Wheele and Distaffe I haue prouided an hundred Nouelles Tales Fables or Histories with iudicious moralles belonging to them for your more delight and queinter exercise In a faire and worthy assembly of seuen Honourable Ladies and three Noble Gentlemen they were recounted within the compasse of ten dayes during the wofull time of our so late dangerous sicknesse with apt Sonnets or Canzons for the conclusion of each seuerall day In which pleasing Nouels may be obserued many strange accidents of Loue and other notable aduentures happening as well in our times as those of grauer antiquity by reading whereof you may receyue both pleasure and profitable counsell because in them you shal perceiue both the sin to be shunned and the vertue to be embraced which as I wholly hate the one so I do and euer will honor the others aduancement The Table The First Day Gouerned by Madam Pampinea  MEssire Chappelet du Prat by making a false confession beguiled an holy religious man and after dyed And hauing during his life time bene a very bad man at his death was reputed to be a Saint and called S. Chappelet 2. Nouell ABraham a Iew beeing admonished or aduised by a friend of his named Iehannot de Cheuigny trauailed from Paris vnto Rome And beholding there the wicked behauiour of men in the Church returned to Paris againe where neuerthelesse he became a Christian 3. Nouell MElchisedech a Iewe by recounting a tale of three Rings to the great Soldan named Saladine preuented a great danger which was prepared for him 4. Nouell A Monke hauing committed an offence deseruing to be very greeuously punished freed himselfe from the paine to be inflicted on him by wittily reprehending his Abbot with the very same fault 5. Nouell LAdy Marquesse of Montferrat with a Banket of Hens and diuers other gracious speeches beside repressed the fond loue of the King of France 6. Nouell AN honest plaine meaning man simply conscionably reprehended the malignity hypocrisie and misdemeanor of many religious persons 7. Nouell BErgamino by telling a Tale of a skilfull man named Primasso and of an Abbot of Clugni honestly checked a new kinde of couetousnesse in Master Can de la Scala 8. Nouell GVillaume Boursieur with a few quaint familiar word checkt the miserable couetousnesse of Signior Herminio de Grimaldi 9. Nouell HOw the King of Cyprus was wittily reprehended by the words of a Gentlewoman of Gascoignie and became vertuously altered from his vicious disposition 10. Nouell MAster Albert of Bullen honestly made a Lady to blush that thought to haue done asmuch to him because she perceiued him to be amorously affected towardes her The second Day gouerned by Madam Philomena 1. Nouell MArtellino counterfetting to bee lame of his members caused himselfe to bee set on the body of Saint Arriguo where hee made shew of his sodaine recouery 〈◊〉 but when his dissiâ—ulation was discouered he was well beaten being afterward taken prisoner and in great 〈◊〉 of being hanged and strangled by the necke and yet escaped in the end 2. Nouell RInaldo de Este after he was rolled by theeues arriued at Chasteau 〈◊〉 where he was friendly lodged by a faire Widow and recompenced likewise for all his losses returning afterward safe and well home vnto his owne house 3. Nouell OF three yong Gentlemen being Brethren and hauing spent all their Landes and possessionâ— vainly became poore A Nephew of theirs falling almost into as desperate a condition became acquainted with an Abbot whom hee afterward found to be the King of Englands Daughter and made him her Husband in marriage recompencing all his Vnckles losses and seating them again in good estate 4. Nouell LAndolpho Ruffolo falling into pouerty became a Pirate on the Seas and beeing taken by the Genewayes hardly escaped drowning Which yet neuerthelesse he did vpon a little chest or coffer full of very rich Iewels beeing carried thereon to Corfu where he was well entertained by a good woman and afterward returned richly home to his owne house 5. Nouell ANdrea de Piero trauelling from Perouse vnto Naples to buy Horses was in the space of one night surprized by three admirable accidents out of all which he fortunately escaped and with a rich Ring returned home to his owne house 6. Nouell MAdame Beritola Caracalla was found in an Island with two Goates hauing lost her two sons and thence trauailed into Lunigianaâ— where one of her Sonnes became seruant to the Lord therof and was â—ound some-what ouer-familiar with his Maisters daughter who therefore caused him to be imprisoned Afterward when the Country of Sicily rebelled against King Charles the aforesaid Sonne chanced to be known by his Mother was married to his Masters daughter And his brother being found likewise they
their attending seruants to dinner paced foorth a daunce very maiestically And when the daunce was ended they sung sundry excellent Canzonets out-wearing so the time vntill the Queene commaunded them all to rest because the houre did necessarily require it The Gentlemen hauing their Chambers farre seuered from the Ladies curiously strewed with flowers and their beds adorned in exquisite manner as those of the Ladies were not a iote inferiour to them the silence of the night bestowed sweet rest on them all In the morning the Queene and all the rest being risen accounting ouermuch sleepe to be very hurtfull they walked abroade into a goodly Meadowe where the grasse grew verdantly and the beames of the Sunne heated not ouer-violently because the shades of faire spreading trees gaue a temperate calmenesse coole and gentle winds fanning their sweet breath pleasingly among them All of them being there set downe in a round ring and the Queene in the middest as being the appointed place of eminencie she spake in this manner You see faire company that the Sunne is highly mounted the heate else-where too extreme for vs and therfore here is our fittest refuge the aire being so coole delicate and acceptable and our folly well worthie reprehension if we should walke further and speede worse Heere are Tables Cards and Chesse as your dispositions may be addicted But if mine aduice might passe for currant I would admit none of those exercises because they are too troublesome both to them that play and such as looke on I could rather wish that some quaint discourse might passe among vs a tale or fable related by some one to vrge the attention of all the rest And so wearing out the warmth of the day one prety Nouell wil draw on another vntil the Sun be lower declined and the heates extremity more diminished to solace our selues in some other place as to our minds shal seeme conuenient If therefore what I haue sayde be acceptable to you I purposing to follow in the same course of pleasure let it appeare by your immediate answer for til the Euening I think we can deuise no exercise more commodious for vs. The Ladies Gentlemen allowed of the motion to spend the time in telling pleasant tales whereupon the Queene saide Seeing you haue approoued mine aduice I grant free permission for this first day that euery one shall relate what to him or her is best pleasing And turning her selfe to Pamphilus who was seated on her right hand gaue him fauour with one of his Nouels to begin the recreation which he not daring to deny and perceiuing generall attention prepared for him thus he began Messire Chappelet du Prat by making a false confession beguyled an holy Religious man and after dyed And hauing during his life time bene a verie bad man at his death was reputed to be a Saint and called S. Chappelet The first Nouell Wherein is contained how hard a thing it is to distinguish goodnesse from hypocrisie and how vnder the shadow of holinesse the wickednes of one man may deceiue many IT is a matter most conuenient deare Ladies that a man ought to begin whatsoeuer he doth in the great and glorious name of him who was the Creator of all thinges Wherefore seeing that I am the man appointed to begin this your inuention of discoursing Nouelties I intend to begin also with one of his wonderfull workes To the end that this beeing heard our hope may remaine on him as the thing onely permanent and his name for euer to be praised by vs. Now as there is nothing more certaine but that euen as temporall things are mortall and transitory so are they both in and out of themselues full of sorrow paine and anguish and subiected to infinite dangers So in the same manner we liue mingled among them seeming as part of them and cannot without some error continue or defend our selues if God by his especiall grace and fauour giue vs not strength and good vnderstanding Which power we may not beleeue that either it descendeth to vs or liueth in vs by any merites of our owne but of his onely most gracious benignity Mooued neuerthelesse and entreated by the intercessions of them who were as we are mortals and hauing diligently obserued his commandements are now with him in eternall blessednes To whom as to aduocates and procurators informed by the experience of our frailty wee are not to present our prayers in the presence of so great a Iudge but only to himselfe for the obtaining of all such things as his wisedome knoweth to be most expedient for vs. And well may we credit that his goodnesse is more fully enclined towards vs in his continuall bounty and liberality then the subtilty of any mortal eye can reach into the secret of so diuine a thought and sometimes therefore we may be beguiled in opinion by electing such and such as our intercessors before his high Maiesty who perhaps are farre off from him or driuen into perpetuall exile as vnworthy to appeare in so glorious a presence For he from whom nothing can be hidden more regardeth the sincerity of him that prayeth then ignorant deuotion committed to the trust of a heedlesse intercessor and such prayers haue alwaies gracious acceptation in his sight As manifestly will appeare by the Nouell which I intend to relate manifestly I say not as in the iudgement of God but according to the ahprehension of men There was one named Musciatto Francesi who from beeing a most rich and great merchant in France was become a Knight and preparing to go into Tuscany with Monsieur Charles without Land Brother to the King of France who vvas desired and incited to come thither by Pope Boniface foūd his affaires greatly intricated here and there as oftentimes the matters of Merchants fall out to bee and that very hardly hee should sodainly vnintangle them without referring the charge of them to diuers persons And for all he tooke indifferent good order onely he remained doubtfull whom he might sufficiently leaue to recouer his debts among many Burgundians And the rather was his care the more herein because he knew the Burgundians to be people of badde nature rioters brablers full of calumny and without any faithfulnesse so that he could not bethinke himselfe of any man how wicked soeuer he was in whom he might repose trust to meete with their lewdnesse Hauing a long while examined his thoughts vpon this point at last hee remembred one master Chappelet du Prat who ofttimes had resorted to his house in Paris And because he was a man of little stature yet handsom enough the French not knowing what this word Chappelet might mean esteeming he should be called rather in their tongue Chappell imagined that in regard of his small stature they termed him Chappelet and not Chappell and so by the name of Chappelet he was euery where known and by few or none acknowledged for Chappel This master Chappelet was of so good and
Laiazzo Being thus come to Laiazzo Osbech who was a braue and gallant young man vpon a reuiew of the pillage found the faire Lady whom hee knew to be the beloued of Constantine because shee was found lying on his bed Without any further delay he made choyse of her to be his Wife causing his nuptials to be honourably sollemnized and many moneths hee liued there in great ioy with her But before occasions grew to this effect the Emperour made a confederacy with Bassano King of Cappadocia that hee should descend with his forces one way vpon Osbech and hee would assault him with his power on the other But he could not so conueniently bring this to passe because the Emperour would not yeeld to Bassano in any vnreasonable matter he demanded Neuerthelesse when he vnderstood what had happened to his Son for whom his griefe was beyond all measure he granted the King of Cappadociaes request solliciting him withall instancy to be the more speedy in assailing Osbech It was not long before hee heard of this coniuration made against him and therefore speedily mustered vp all his forces ere he would be encompassed by two such potent Kings and marched on to meete the King of Cappadocia leauing his Lady and Wife for her safety at Laiazzo in the custodie of a true and loyall seruant of his Within a short while after he drew neere the Campe belonging to the King of Cappadocia where boldly he gaue him battell chancing therein to be slaine his Army broken and discomfited by meanes whereof the King of Cappadocia remaining Conquerour marched on towards Laiazzo euery one yeelding him obeysance all the way as he went In the meane space the seruant to Osbech who was named Antiochus and with whom the faire Lady was left in guard although hee was aged yet seeing shee was so extraordinarily beautifull he fell in loue with her forgetting the sollemne vowes he had made to his Master One happinesse hee had in this case to helpe him namely that he vnderstood and could speake her language a matter of no meane comfort to her who constrainedly had liued diuers yeeres together in the state of a deafe or dumbe woman because euery where else they vnderstood her not nor shee them but by shewes and signes This benefit of familiar conference beganne to embolden his hopes eleuate his courage and make him seeme more youthfull in his owne opinion then any ability of body could speake vnto him or promise him in the possession of her who was so farre beyond him and so vnequall to be enioyed by him yet to aduance his hopes a great deale higher newes came that Osbech was vanquished and slaine and that Bassano made euerie where hauocke of all whereon they concluded together not to tarrie there any longer but storing themselues with the goods of Osbech secretly they departed thence to Rhodes Being seated there in some indifferent abiding it came to passe that Antiochus fell into a deadly sicknesse to whom came a Cyprian Merchant one much esteemed by him as being an intimate friend and kinde acquaintance and in whom hee reposed no small confidence Feeling his sicknesse to encrease more and more vpon him dayly hee determined not onely to leaue such wealth as hee had to this Merchant but the faire Lady likewise and calling them both to his beds side he brake his minde vnto them in this manner Deare Loue and my most worthily respected friend I perceiue plainly and infallibly that I am drawing neere vnto my end which much discontenteth me because my hope was to haue liued longer in this world for the enioying of your kinde and most esteemed company Yet one thing maketh my death very pleasing and welcome to me namely that lying thus in my bed of latest comfort in this life I shall expire and finish my course in the armes of those two persons whom I most affected in all this world as you my euer dearest friend and you faire Lady whom since the very first sight of you I loued and honoured in my soule Irksome and very grieuous it is to me that if I dye I shall leaue you here a stranger without the counsaile and helpe of any body and yet much more offensiue would it become if I had not such a friend as you here present who I am faithfully perswaded will haue the like care and respect of her euen for my sake as of my selfe if time had allotted my longer tarying here And therefore worthy friend most earnestly I desire you that if I dye all mine affaires and she may remaine to your trusty care as being by my selfe absolutely commended to your prouidence and so to dispose both of the one and other as may best agree with the comfort of my soule As for you choise beauty I humbly entreate that after my death you would not forget mee to the end I may make my vaunt in another world that I was affected here by the onely fairest Lady that euer Nature framed If of these two things you will giue me assurance I shall depart from you with no meane comfort The friendly Merchant and likewise the Lady hearing these words wept both bitterly and after hee had giuen ouer speaking kindly they comforted him with promise and solemne vowes that if hee dyed all should be performed which he had requested Within a short while after he departed out of this life and they gaue him very honourable buriall according to that Country custome Which being done the Merchant dispatching all his affaires at Rhodes was desirous to returne home to Cyprus in a Carrack of the Catelans then there being mouing the Lady in the matter to vnderstand how shee stood enclined because vrgent occasions called him thence to Cyprus The Lady made answere that she was willing to passe thither with him hoping for the loue hee bare to deceased Antiochus that he would respect her as his Sister The Merchant was willing to giue her any contentment but yet resolued her that vnder the title of being his Sister it would be no warrant of security to them both wherefore hee rather aduised her to stile him as her husband and hee would terme her his wife and so hee should be sure to defend her from all iniuries whatsoeuer Being abord the Carrack they had a Cabine and small bed conueniently allowed them where they slept together that they might the better be reputed as man and wife for to passe otherwise would haue beene very dangerous to them both And questionlesse their faithfull promise made at Rhodes to Antiochus sicknesse on the Sea and mutuall respect they had of each others credit was a constant restraint to all wanton desires and a motiue rather to incite chastity then otherwise and so I hope you are perswaded of them But howsoeuer the windes blewe merily the Carrack sayled lustily and by this time they are arriued at Baffa where the Cyprian Merchant dwelt and where shee continued a long while with him no one
and not returne him any answer The Lady with a modest blush much condemned this folly in him that his couetousnesse should serue as a cloake to couer any vnfitting speeches which her chaste eares could neuer endure to heare neuerthelesse being to obey her Husbands will shee promised to doe it and followed him downe into the House to heare what the Magnifico would say Againe he there confirmed the bargaine made with her Husband and sitting downe by her in a corner of the Hall farre enough off from any ones hearing taking her curteously by the hand thus he spake Worthy Lady it appeareth to me for a certainty that you are so truly wise as you haue no doubt a long while since perceiued what vnfained affection your beauty farre excelling all other womens that I know hath compelled me to beare you Setting aside those commendable qualities and singular vertues gloriously shining in you and powerfull enough to make a conquest of the very stoutest courage I held it vtterly needlesse to let you vnderstand by words how faithfull the loue is I beare you were it not much more feruent and constant then euer any other man can expresse to a woman In which condition it shall still continue without the least blemish or impaire so long as I enioy life or motion yea and I dare assure you that if in the future World affection may containe the same powerfull dominion as it doth in this I am the man borne to loue you perpetually Whereby you may rest confidently perswaded that you enioy not any thing how poore or precious soeuer it be which you can so solemnely account to be your owne and in the truest title of right as you may my selfe in all that I haue or for euer shall be mine To confirme your opinion in this case by any argument of greater power let me tell you that I should repute it as my fairest and most gracious fortune if you would command me some such seruice as consisteth in mine ability to performe and in your courteous fauour to accept yea if it were to trauaile thorow the whole world right willing am I and obedient In which regard faire Madame if I be so much yours as you heare I am I may boldly aduenture and not without good reason to acquaint your chaste eares with my earnest desires for on you onely dependeth my happinesse life and absolute comfort and as your most humble seruant I beseech you my dearest good and sole hope of my soule that rigour may dwell no longer in your gentle brest but Lady-like pitty and compassion whereby I shal say that as your diuine beauty enflamed mine affections euen so it extended such a mercifull qualification as exceeded all my hope but not the halfe part of your pitty Admit miracle of Ladies that I should die in this distresse Alas my death would be but your dishonour I cannot be termed mine owne murtherer when the Dart came from your eye that did it and must remaine a witnesse of your rigour You cannot then chuse but call to minde and say within your owne soule Alas what a sinne haue I committed in being so vnmercifull to my Magnifico Repentance then serues to no purpose but you must answere for such vnkinde cruelty Wherefore to preuent so blacke a scandall to your bright beauty beside the ceaselesse acclamations which will dogge your walkes in the day time and breake your quiet sleepes in the night season with fearefull sights and gastly apparitions houering and haunting about your bed let all these 〈◊〉 you to milde mercy and spill not life when you may saue it So the Magnifico ceasing with teares streaming from his eyes and siâ—hes breaking from his heart he sate still in exspectation of the Ladies answere who made neither long or short of the matter neither Tilts nor Tourneying nor many lost mornings and euenings nor infinite other such like offices which the Magnifico for her sake from time to time had spent in vaine without the least shew of acceptation or any hope at all to winne her loue Moued now in this very houre by these solemne protestations or rather most preuailing asseuerations she began to finde that in her which before she neuer felt namely Loue. And although to keepe her promise made to her husband shee spake not a word yet her heart heauing her soule throbbing sighes intermixing and complexion altering could not hide her intended answere to the Magnifico if promise had beene no hinderance to her will All this while the Magnifico sate as mute as she and seeing she would not giue him any answere at all he could not chuse but wonder thereat yet at length perceiued that it was thus cunningly contriued by her husband Notwithstanding obseruing well her countenance that it was in a quite contrary temper another kinde of fire sparkling in her eye other humours flowing her pulses strongly beating her stomack rising and sighes swelling all these were arguments of a change and motiues to aduance his hope Taking courage by this tickling perswasion and instructing his minde with a new kinde of counsell he would needes answere himselfe on her behalfe and as if she had vttered the words he spake in this manner Magnifico and my friend surely it is a long time since when I first noted thine affection towards me to be very great and most perfect but now I am much more certaine thereof by thine owne honest and gentle speeches which content me as they ought to doe Neuerthelesse if heretofore I haue seemed cruell and vnkinde to thee I would not haue thee thinke that my heart was any way guilty of my outward seuerity but did euermore loue thee and held thee dearer then any man liuing But yet it became me to doe so as well in feare of others as for the renowne of mine owne reputation But now the time is at hand to let thee know more clearely whether I doe affect thee or no as a iust guerdon of thy constant loue which long thou hast and still doest beare to me Wherefore comfort thy selfe and dwell vpon this vndoubted hope because Signior Francesco my husband is to be absent hence for many dayes being chosen Podesta at Millaine as thou canst not chuse but heare for it is common through the Country I know for my sake thou hast giuen him thy goodly ambling Gelding and so soone as hee is gone I promise thee vpon my word and by the faithfull loue I beare thee that I will haue further conference with thee and let thee vnderstand somewhat more of my minde And because this is neither fitting time nor place to discourse on matters of such serious moment obserue heereafter as a signall when thou seest my crimson skarfe hanging in the window of my Chamber which is vpon the Garden side that euening so soone as it is night come to the Garden gate with wary respect that no eye doe discouer thee and there thou shalt finde me walking and ready to
If it be in regard of some vow which you haue consecrated to virginity and to some one of our Gods I seeke not therein to hinder your disseignes neither will bereaue the celestiall powers of whatsoeuer appertaineth to them Albeit I could wish that it should bee kept in a place more straited and separate from the resort of men to the end that so bright a beauty as yours is should cause no discords among amorous suters neither my Court proue a Campe destinied vnto the conclusion of such quarrels or you be the occasion of ruining so many whose seruice would beseeme a much more needfull place then to dye heere by fond and foolish opinion of enioying a vaine pleasure yet remaining in the power of another bodie to grant If therefore I shall perceiue that these behauiours in you do proceede from pride or contempt of them who endeuour to do you both honor and seruice and in sted of granting them a gracious looke in arrogancie you keepe from them making them enemies to your folly and my sufferance I sweare to you by our greatest God that I will take such due order as shall make you feele the hand of an offended Father and teach you hencefoorth to bee much more affable Wherefore deere daughter you shall do me a singular pleasure freely to acquaint me with your minde and the reasons of your so stricte seuerity promising you vpon the word and faith of a King nay more of a louing and kinde Father that if I finde the cause to bee iust and reasonable I will desist so farre from hindering your intent as you shal rather perceiue my fatherly furtherance and rest truly resolued of my help and fauour Wherefore faire daughter neither blush or dismay or feare to let me vnderstand your will for euidently I see that meere virgin shame hath made a rapture of your soule beeing nothing else but those true splendors of vertue deriued from your Auncestors and shining in you most gloriously gracing you with a much richer embellishing thē those beauties bestowed on you by Nature Speake therefore boldly to your Father because there is no law to prohibit your speech to him for when he commandeth he ought to bee obeyed promising vppon mine oath once againe that if your reasons are such as they ought to be I will not faile to accommodate your fancy The wise and vertuous Princesse hearing the King to alledge such gracious reasons and to lay so kinde a command on her making him most lowe and humble reuerence in signe of dutifull accepting such fauour thus she answered Royall Lord and Father seeing that in your Princely Court I haue gathered whatsoeuer may be termed vertuous in me you being the principall instructer of my life from whom I haue learned those lessons how maides of my age ought to gouerne and maintaine themselues you shall apparantly perceiue that neither gazing lookes which I ought not to yeelde without your consent nor pride or arrogancie neuer taughr me by you or the Queene my most honourable Lady and Mother are any occasion of my cariage towards them which come to make ostentation of their folly in your Court as if a meere look of Serictha were sufficient to yeeld assurance effectually of their desires victory Nothing my most Royall Lord and Father induceth mee to this kinde of behauiour but onely due respect of your honour mine owne and to the end it may not be thought that I belye my selfe in not eying the affectionate offers of amorous pursuers or haue any other priuate reserued meaning then what may best please King Siwalde my Father let it suffice Sir that it remaineth in your power onely to make an apt election and choice for me for I neither ought nor will allowe the acceptance of any suters kindnesse so much as by a looke much lesse then by words vntill your Highnesse shall nominate the man to be a meete husband for Serictha It is onely you then my Lord that beares the true life-blood of our Ancestors It is the vntainted life of the Queene my Mother that sets a chaste and strict restraint on mine eyes from estranging my heart to the idle amorous enticements of young giddy-headed Gentlemen and haue sealed vp my soule with an absolute determination rather to make choise of death then any way to alter this my warrantable seuerity You being a wise King and the worthie Father of Serictha it is in you to mediate counsell and effect what best shall beseeme the desseignes of your daughter because it is the vertue of children yea and their eternall glory and renowne to illustrate the liues and memories of their parents It consisteth in you either to grant honest license to such Lords as desire me or to oppose them with such discreete conditions as both your selfe may sit free from any further afflicting and they rest defeated of dangerous dissentions according as you foresee what may ensue Which yet neuerthelesse I hold as a matter impossible if their discord should be grounded on the sole apprehension of their soules and the onely preuention therof is not to yeeld any signe glance of the eie or so much as a word more to one man then another for such is the setled disposition of your daughters soule and which shee humbly entreateth may so be still suffered Many meanes there are whereby to winne the grace of the greatest King by employing their paines in worthy occasions answerable vnto their yeeres and vertue if any such sparkes of honour doe shine in their soules rather then by gaining heere any matter of so meane moment by endeauouring to shake the simplicity of a bashfull maide Let them cleare the Kings high-wayes of Theeues who make the passages difficult or let them expell Pirates from off the Seas which make our Danish coasts euery way inaccessible These are such Noble meanes to merit as may throw deserued recompence vppon them and much more worthily then making Idols of Ladies lookes or gazing for babies in their wanton eyes So may you bestowe on them what is your owne granting Serictha to behold none but him who you shall please to giue her for otherwise you know her absolute resolue neuer to looke any liuing man in the face but onely you my gracious Lord and Father The King hearing this wise and modest answer of his daughter could not choose but commend her in his heart and smiling at the counsell which she gaue him returned her this answer Vnderstand me wel faire daughter neither am I minded to breake your determination wholly nor yet to gouerne my selfe according to your fancie I stand indifferently contented that vntill I haue otherwise purposed you shall continue the nature of your ancient custome yet conditionally that when I command an alteration of your carriage you faile not therin to declare your obedience What else remaineth beside for so silly a thing as a Woman is and for the priuate pleasing of so many great Princes and Lords
as pursued any Lady or Gentlewoman with loue 〈…〉 perswaded that they neuer made sufficient proofe of the◠〈◊〉 passions if they vndertooke not all cunning stratagems with aduenture of their liues to all perils whatsoeuer for the rape or stealth of them whom they purposed to enioy in marriage As we reade in the Gothes History of Gramo Sonne to the King of Denmarke who being impaâ—â—ently amourous of the daughter to the King of the Gothes and winning the loue of the Lady stole her away before her Parents or friends had any notice thereof by meanes of which rape there followed a most bloody warre betweene the Gothes and the Danes In recompence of which iniury Sibdagerus King of Norway being chosen chiefe Commander of the Swetians Gothes entred powerfully into Denmarke where first he violated the Sister to King Gramo and led away her Daughter whom in the like manner he made his Spouse as the Dane had done the Daughter of Sigtruge Prince of the Gothes I induce these briefe narrations onely to shew that while Ocharus made honest and affable meanes to win respect from Serictha and vsed all honourable seruices to her as the Daughter of so great a Prince worthily deserued some there were not halfe so conscientious as he especially one of the amourous sutors who being weary of the strange carriages of Serictha dissembling to prosecute his purpose no further preuailed so farre that he corrupted one of her Gouernesses for secretly training her to such a place where the rauisher should lie in ambush to carry her away so to enioy her by pollicy seeing all other meanes failed for to compasse his desire Behold to what a kind of foolish rage which giddy headed dullards doe terme a naturall passion they are led who being guided more by sensuality then reason or discretion follow the braine-sicke motions of their rash apprehensions He which pursueth and protesteth to loue a Lady for her gentillity and vertue knoweth not how to measure what loue is neither seeth or conceiueth how farre the permission of his owne endeauour extendeth Moreouer you may obserue that neuer any age was so grosse or men so simple but euen almost from the beginning auarice did hood-winke the hearts of men and that with gold the very strongest Fortification in the World hath beene broken yea and the best bard gates laide wide open Serictha who shunned the sight of all men and neuer distrusted them which kept about her shee who neuer knew except some naturall sparke gaue light to her vnderstanding what belonged to the embracements of men must now without dreaming thereon fall as foode to the insatiable appetite of a wretch who compassed this surprisall of her to glory in his owne lewdnesse and make a mocke of the Princesses setled constancy Shee good Lady following the councell of her trayterous guide went abroade on walking but weakely accompanied as one that admitted no men to attend her which shee might haue repented very dearely if Heauen had not succoured her innocency by the helpe of him who wished her as well as the rauisher though their desires were quite contrary the one to enioy her by violence but the other affecting rather to die then doe the least act which might displease her No sooner was Serictha arâ—iued at the destined place where her false Gouernesse was to deliuer her but behold a second Paris came and seized on her hurrying her in haste away before any helpe could possibly rescue her the place being farre off from any dwelling Now the rauisher durst not conuey her to his owne abiding to enioy the benefit of his purchase but haled her into a small thicket of trees where although shee knew the euident perill whereinto her seuere continency had now throwne her yet notwithstanding shee would not lift vp her eyes to see what he was that had thus stolne her so firmely shee dwelt vpon grounded deliberation and such was the vigor of her chaste resolue And albeit shee knew a wickednesse worse then death preparing for her who had no other glory then in her vertue and desire to liue contentedly yet was shee no more astouned thereat then if hee had led her to the Palace of the King her Father perswading herselfe that violence done to the body is no preiudice to honour when the mind is free and cleere from consent As thus this robber of beauty was preparing to massacre the modesty of the faire Princesse shee resisted him with all her power yea and defended her selfe so worthily that he could not get one looke of her eye one kisse of her cheeke nor any aduantage whatsoeuer crying out shrilly and strugling against him strongly her outcryes were heard by one who little imagined that shee was so neere whom he loued more dearely then his owne life namely Ocharus who was walking accidentally alone in this wood deuising by what meanes hee might winne grace from his sterne Mistresse No sooner tooke he knowledge of her and saw her in the armes of another to be rauished but he cryed out to the thiefe saying Hand off villaine let not such a slaue as thou prophane with an vnreuerend touch the sacred honour of so chaste a Princesse who deserueth to be more royally respected then thus rudely hurried Hand off I say or else I sweare by her diuine perfections whom I esteeme aboue all creatures in this World to make thee die more miserably then euer any man as yet did Whosoeuer had seene a Lyon or an Ounce rouse himselfe chafing when any one aduentureth to rob him of his prey and these with fierce eyes mounted creasts writhed tayles and sharpened pawes make against him that durst so mollest him In the like manner did the rauisher shew himselfe and one while snarling another while bristling the darted disdainefull lookes at Ocharus and spake to him in this manner Vile and base Sea-thiefe as thou art welcome to thy deserued wages and iust repayment for thy proud presuming It glads my heart not a little to meete thee here where thou shalt soone perceiue what good will I beare thee and whether thou be worthy or no to enioy the honour of this Lady now in mine owne absolute possession It will also encrease her more ample perswasion of my worth and pleade my merit more effectually in her fauour when shee shall see what a powerfull arme I haue to punish this proud insolence of a Pirate This harsh language was so distastfull to Ocharus that like a Bull made angry by the teeth of some Mastiue Dogge or pricked by the point of a weapon he ran vpon his enemy and was so roughly welcommed by him as it could not easily be iudged which of them had the better aduantage But in the end Fortune fauoured most the honest man and Ocharus hauing ouerthrowne the robber hee smote the head of him quite from his shoulders which he presented to her whom he had deliuered out of so great a perill and thus he spake You may now
behold Madam whether Ocharus be a true louer of Sericthaes vertues or no and your knowledge fully resolued at what end his affection aimeth as also how farre his honest desert extendeth for you both to loue him and to recompence the loyall respect he hath vsed towards you Neuer looke on the villaines face who stroue to shame the King your Fathers Court by violation of theeuery the chasest Princesse on the Earth but regard Ocharus who is readie to sacrifice himselfe if you take as much pleasure in his ruine as he thinketh hee hath giuen you contentment by deliuering you from this Traytor Doth it not appeare vnto you Madam that I haue as yet done enough whereby to be thought a worthy Husband for the royall Daughter of Denmarke Haue I not satisfied the Kings owne Ordinance by deliuering his Daughter as already I haue done Will Serictha be so constant in her cruelty as not to turne her eye towards him who exposed his life to no meane perill and daunger onely in the defence of her Chastity Then I plainely perceiue that the wages of my deuoire is ranked amongest those precedent seruices which I haue performed for so hurtfull a beautie Yet gentle Princesse let me tell you my carriage hath bin of more importance then all the others can be and my merit no way to be compared with theirs at least if you pleased to make account of him who is an vnfeigned louer of your modesty and deuoutly honoureth your vertuous behauiour And yet Madame shall I haue none other answere from you but your perpetuall silence Can you continue so obstinate in your opinion in making your selfe still as strange to your Ocharus as to the rest who haue no other affection but onely to the bare outside of beauty Why then Royall Ladie seeing at this instant time all my labour is but lost and your heart seemeth much more hardned in acknowledging any of my honest seruices at least yet let me bee so happy as to conduct you backe to the Palace and restore you to that sacred safetie which will be my soules best comfort to behold No outward signe of kinde acceptation did any way expresse it selfe in her but rather as fearing lest the commodiousnesse of the place shold incite this young Lord to forget all honest respect and imitate the other in like basenesse But he who rather wished a thousand deathes then any way to displease his Mistresse as if hee were halfe doubtfull of her suspition made offer of guiding her backe to the place from whence shee had before bene stolne where she found her company still staying as not daring to stirre thence to let the King know his daughters ill fortune but when they saw her returne and in the company of so worthie a Knight they grew resolued that no violence had bene done vnto her The Princesse sharpely rebuking her women for leauing her so basely as they had done gaue charge to one of them because she would not seeme altogether negligent discourteous that she being gon thence she should not faile to thanke Ocharus for the honest and faithfull seruice he had done vnto her which she would continually remember and recompence as it lay in her power Neuerthelesse shee aduised him withall not to hope of any more aduantage thereby then reason should require For if it were the will of the Gods that she should be his wife neither she or any other could let or hinder it but if her destiny reserued her for another all his seruices would auaile to no purpose but rather to make her the more rigorous towards him This gracious answer thus giuen him by her Gentlewoman althogh it gaue some small contentment to the poore languishing louer yet hee saw no assured signe whereon to settle his resolue but his hopes vanished away in smoake as fast as opinion bred them in his braine And gladly he would haue giuen ouer all further amorous solicitings but by some priuate perswasions of her message sent him which in time might so aduance his seruices done for her sake as would deriue far greater fauours from her Whereupon he omitted no time or place but as occasion gaue him any gracious permission still plied her memorie with his manly rescuing her from the rauisher sufficient to pleade his merite to her Father and that in equity she ought to bee his wife by right both of Honour and Armes no man being able to deserue her as he had done So long he pursued her in this maner that his speeches seemed hatefull to her and deuising how to be free from his daily importunities at length in the habite of a poore Chamber-maide she secretly departed out of the Court wandering into the solitary parts of the country where she entered into seruice and had the charge of keeping Sheepe It may seeme strange that a Kings onely daughter should stray in such sort and despising Courtly life betake her selfe to paines and seruility but such was her resolution and women delighting altogether in extremes spare no attempts to compasse their owne wils All the Court was in an vprore for the Ladies losse the Father in no meane affliction the Louers well-nere beside their wits and euery one else most greeuously tormented that a Lady of such worth should so sodainly be gone and all pursuit made after her gaine no knowledge of her In this high tide of sorrow and disaster what shall we say of the gentle Lord Ocharus What iudgement can sound the depth of his wofull extreamity Fearing least some other theefe had now made a second stealth of his diuine Goddesse he must needs follow her againe seeking quite throughout the world neuer more rerurning backe to the Court nor to the place of his owne abiding vntill hee heard tidings of his Mistresse or ended his dayes in the search of her No Village Town Cottage Caste or any place else of note or name did hee leaue vnsought but diligently he searched for Serictha striuing to get knowledge vnder what habit she liued thus concealed but all his labour was to no effect which made him leaue the places so much frequented and visite the solitary desert shades entering into all Caues and rusticke habitations whereon hee could fasten his eye to seeke for the lost Treasure of his soule On a day as hee wandred along in a spacious valley seated betweene two pleasant hilles taking delight to heare the gentle murmure of the riuers running by the sides of two neighbouring rockes planted with all kinde of trees and very thickely spred with mosse hee espied a flocke of Sheepe feeding on the grasse and not farre off from them sate a Maide spinning on her Distaffe who hauing got a sight of him presently couered her face with a veile Loue who sate as Sentinell both in the heart and eye of the gentle Norwegian Lord as quickly discouered the subtilty of the faire Shephearddesse enstructing the soule of Ocharus that thus she hid her face as coueting not
wealth hurries it into horrible confusions Many Kings and great Princes haue heretofore beene poore when diuers of them that haue delued into the Earth and kept Flockes in the Feld haue beene aduanced to riches and exceeded the other in wealth Now as concerning your last doubt which most of all afflicteth you namely how you shall deale with me boldly rid your braine of any such disturbance for if you haue resolued now in your extremity of yeeres to doe that which your younger dayes euermore despised I meane to become cruell vse your vtmost cruelty against me for I will neuer entreate you to the contrary because I am the sole occasion of this offence if it doe deserue the name of an offence And this I dare assure you that if you deale not with me as you haue done already or intend to Guiscardo mine owne hands shall act as much and therefore giue ouer your teares to women and if you purpose to be cruel let him and me in death drinke both of one cup at least if you imagine that we haue deserued it The King knew well enough the high spirit of his Daughter but yet neuerthelesse he did not beleeue that her words would proue actions or shee doe as shee saide And therefore parting from her and without intent of vsing any cruelty to her concluded by quenching the heate of another to coole the fiery rage of her distemper commanding two of his followers who had the custody of Guiscardo that without any rumour or noyse at all they should strangle him the night ensuing and taking the heart forth of his body to bring it to him which they performed according to their charge On the next day the King called for a goodly standing Cup of Gold wherein he put the heart of Guiscardo sending it by one of his most familiar seruants to his Daughter with command also to vse these words to her Thy Father hath sent thee this present to comfort thee with that thing which most of all thou affectest euen as thou hast comforted him with that which he most hated Ghismonda nothing altered from her cruell deliberation after her Father was departed from her caused certaine poysonous rootes hearbs to be brought her which shee by distillation made a water of to drinke suddenly whensoeuer any crosse accident should come from her Father whereupon when the messenger from her Father had deliuered her the present and vttered the words as he was commanded shee tooke the Cup and looking into it with a setled countenance by sight of the heart and effect of the message shee knew certainly that it was the heart of Guiscardo then looking stearnely on the seruant thus she spake vnto him My honest friend it is no more then right and iustice that so worthy a heart as this is should haue any worser graue then gold wherein my Father hath dealt most wisely So lifting the heart vp to her mouth and sweetly kissing it shee proceeded thus In all things euen till this instant being the vtmost period of my life I haue euermore found my Fathers loue most effectuall to me but now it appeareth farre greater then at any time heretofore and therefore from my mouth thou must deliuer him the latest thankes that euer I shall giue him for sending me such an honourable present These words being ended holding the Cup fast in her hand and looking seriously vpon the heart shee began againe in this manner Thou sweete entertainer of all my dearest delights accursed be his cruelty that causeth me thus to see thee with my corporall eyes it being sufficient enough for me alwayes to behold thee with the sight of my soule Thou hast runne thy race and as Fortune ordained so are thy dayes finished for as all flesh hath an ending so hast thou concluded albeit too soone and before thy due time The trauailes and miseries of this World haue now no more to meddle with thee and thy very heauiest enemy hath bestowed such a graue on thee as thy greatnesse in vertue worthily deserueth now nothing else is wanting wherewith to beautifie thy Funerall but onely her sighes teares that was so deare vnto thee in thy life time And because thou mightest the more freely enioy them see how my mercilesse Father on his owne meere motion hath sent thee to me and truly I will bestow them frankly on thee though once I had resolued to die with drie eyes and not shedding one teare dreadlesse of their vtmost malice towards me And when I haue giuen thee the due oblation of my teares my soule which sometime thou hast kept most carefully shall come to make a sweete coniunction with thine for in what company else can I trauaile more contentedly and to those vnfrequented silent shades but onely in thine As yet I am sure it is present here in this Cup sent me by my Father as hauing a prouident respect to the place for possession of our equall and mutuall pleasures because thy soule affecting mine so truely cannot walke alone without his deare companion Hauing thus finished her complaint euen as if her head had been conuerted into a well-spring of water so did teares abundantly flow from her faire eyes kissing the heart of Guiscardo infinite times All which while her women standing by her neither knew what heart it was nor to what effect her speeches tended but being moued to compassionate teares they often demanded albeit in vaine the occasion of her sad complaining comforting her to their vtmost power When shee was not able to weepe any longer wiping her eyes and lifting vp her head without any signe of the least dismay thus shee spake to the heart Deare heart all my duty is performed to thee and nothing now remaineth vneffected but onely breathing my last to let my ghost accompany thine Then calling for the glasse of water which shee had readily prepared the day before and powring it vpon the heart lying in the Cup couragiously aduancing it to her mouth shee dranke it vp euery drop which being done shee lay downe vpon her bed holding her Louers heart fast in her hand and laying it so neere to her owne as she could Now although her women knew not what water it was yet when they had seene her to quaffe it off in that manner they sent word to the King who much suspecting what had happened went in all haste to his Daughters chamber entring at the very instant when shee was laide vpon her bed beholding her in such passionate pangs with teares streaming downe his reuerend beard he vsed many kinde words to comfort her when boldly thus shee spake vnto him Father quoth she well may you spare these teares because they are vnfitting for you and not any way desired by me who but your selfe hath seene any man to mourne for his owne wilfull offence Neuerthelesse if but the least iot of that loue doe yet abide in you whereof you haue made such liberall profession to me let me
Magdalena in the still silence of the night Ninetta was conueyed into a sacke and sent in that manner to the House of Folco the Duke following soone after to challenge her promise Magdalena hauing acquainted her Husband with her vertuous intention for preseruing her Sisters life and disappointing the Duke in his wicked desire was as contrary to her true meaning in this case as Ninetta had formerly beene aduerse to Restagnone onely being ouer-ruled likewise by iealousie and perswaded in his rash opinion that the Duke had already dishonoured Magdalena otherwise he would not haue deliuered Ninetta out of prison Mad fury gaue further fire to this vnmanly perswasion and nothing will now quench this violent shame but the life of poore Magdalena suddenly sacrificed in the rescue of her Sisters such a diuell is anger when the vnderstandings bright eye is thereby abused No credit might be giuen to her womanly protestations nor any thing seeme to alter his bloody purpose but hauing slaine Magdalena with his Poniard notwithstanding her teares and humble entreaties hee ran in haste to Ninettaes Chamber shee not dreaming on any such desperate accident and to her he vsed these dissembling speeches Sister quoth he my wife hath aduised that I should speedily conuey you hence as fearing the renewing of the Dukes fury and your falling againe into the hands of Iustice I haue a Barke readily prepared for you and your life being secured it is all that she and I doe most desire Ninetta being fearefull and no way distrusting what he had saide in thankfull allowance of her Sisters care and curteous tender of his so ready seruice departed thence presently with him not taking any farewell of her other Sister and her Husband To the Sea-shore they came very weakely prouided of monies to defray their charges and getting aboard the Barke directed their course themselues knew not whether The amourous Duke in his disguise hauing long daunced attendance at Folcoes doore and no admittance of his entrance angerly returned backe to his Court protesting seuere reuenge on Magdalena if she gaue him not the better satisfaction to cleare her from thus basely abusing him On the morrow morning when Magdalena was found murthered in her Chamber and tidings thereof carried to the Duke present search was made for the bloody offendor but Folco being fled and gone with Ninetta some there were who bearing deadly hatred to Hugnetto incensed the Duke against him and his wife as supposing them to be guilty of Magdalenaes death He being thereto very easily perswaded in regard of his immoderate loue to the slaine Gentlewoman went himselfe in person attended on by his Guard to Hugnettoes House where both he and his wife were seized as prisoners These newes were very strange to them and their imprisonment as vnwelcome and although they were truly innocent either in knowledge of the horrid fact or the departure of Folco with Ninetta yet being vnable to endure the tortures extremity they made themselues culpable by confession and that they had hand with Folco in the murder of Magdalena Vpon this their forced confession and sentence of death pronounced on them by the Duke himselfe before the day appointed for their publike execution by great summes of money which they had closely hid in their House to serue when any vrgent extremitie should happen to them they corrupted their keepers and before any intelligence could be had of their flight they escaped by Sea to Rhodes where they liued afterward in great distresse and misery The iust vengeance of Heauen followed after Folco and Ninetta he for murthering his honest wife and she for poysoning her offending Husband for being beaten a long while on the Seas by tempestuous stormes and weather and not admitted landing in any Port or creeke they were driuen backe on the Coast of Candie againe where being apprehended and brought to the City before the Duke they confessed their seuerall notorious offences and ended their loathed liues in one fire together Thus the idle and loose loue of Restagnone with the franticke rage and iealousie of Ninetta and Folco ouerturned all their long continued happinesse and threw a disastrous ending on them all Gerbino contrary to the former plighted faith of his Grand-father King Gulielmo fought with a Ship at Sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away his Daughter who was then in the same Ship Shee being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew them and afterward had his owne head smitten off The fourth Nouell In commendation of Iustice betweene Princes and declaring withall that neither feare dangers nor death it selfe can any way daunt a true and loyall Louer MAdam Lauretta hauing concluded her Nouel and the company complaining on Louers misfortunes some blaming the angry and iealous fury of Ninetta and euery one deliuering their seuerall opinions the King as awaking out of a passionate perplexity exalted his lookes giuing a signe to Madam Elisa that shee should follow next in order whereto she obeying began in this manner I haue heard Gracious Ladies quoth she of many people who are verily perswaded that Loues arrowes neuer wound any body but onely by the eyes lookes and gazes mocking and scorning such as maintaine that men may fall in loue by hearing onely Wherein beleeue me they are greatly deceiued as will appeare by a Nouell which I must now relate vnto you and wherein you shall plainely perceiue that not onely fame or report is as preuailing as sight but also hath conducted diuers to a wretched and miserable ending of their liues Gulielmo the second King of Sicilie according as the Sicilian Chronicles record had two children the one a sonne named Don Rogero and the other a daughter called Madam Constance The saide Rogero died before his Father leauing a sonne behind him named Gerbino who with much care and cost was brought vp by his Grand-father prouing to be a very goodly Prince and wondrously esteemed for his great valour and humanity His fame could not containe it selfe within the bounds or limits of Sicilie onely but being published very prodigally in many parts of the world beside flourished with no meane commendations throughout all Barbarie which in those dayes was tributary to the King of Sicilie Among other persons deseruing most to be respected the renowned vertues and affability of this gallant Prince Gerbino was vnderstood by the beautious Daughter to the King of Thunis who by such as had seene her was reputed to be one of the rarest creatures the best conditioned and of the truest noble spirit that euer Nature framed in her very choycest pride of art Of famous vertuous and worthy men it was continually her cheefest delight to heare and the admired actions of valiant Gerbino reported to her by many singular discoursers such as could best describe him with language answerable to his due deseruings won such honourable entertainment in her vnderstanding soule that they were most affectionately pleasing to her and
not any part or parcell but onely a Ladie for whose sake I haue vndertaken these Armes and freely giue you all the rest contained in the shippe Let vs set on them Gentlemen and my dearest friends couragiously let vs assaile the ship you see how the wind fauors vs and questionlesse in so good an action Fortune will not faile vs. Gerbino needed not to haue spoken so much in perswading them to seize so rich a booty because the men of Messina were naturally addicted to spoile and rapine and before the Prince began his Oration they had concluded to make the ship their purchase Wherefore giuing a lowde shout according to their Countrey manner and commaunding their Trumpets to sound chearefully they rowed on amain with their Oares and in meere despight set vpon the ship But before the Gallies could come neere her they that had the charge and managing of her perceyuing with what speede they made towards them and no likely meanes of escaping from them resoluedly they stood vppon their best defence for now it was no time to be slothfull The Prince being come neere to the Ship commanded that the Patrones should come to him except they would aduenture the fight When the Sarazines were thereof aduertised and vnderstood also what he demanded they returned answer That their motion and proceeding in this manner was both against Law and plighted faith which was promised by the King of Sicily for their safe passage thorow his Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed In testimony whereof they shewed his Gloue auouching moreouer that neyther by force or otherwise they would yeelde or deliuer him any thing which they had aboorde their Ship Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke and she appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of her being much more enflamed now then formerly he had bin replyed thus when they shewed the Gloue Wee haue quoth he no Faulcon heere now to be humbled at the sight of your Gloue and therefore if you wil not deliuer the Lady prepare your selues for fight for we must haue her whether you will or no. Hereupon they began to let flie on both sides their Darts and arrowes with stones sent in violent sort from their slings thus continuing the fight a long while to very great harme on either side At the length Gerbino perceyuing that small benefite would redound to him if he did not vndertake some other kinde of course he tooke a smal Pinnace which purposely he brought with him from Sardignia and setting it on a flaming fire conueyd it by the Gallies help close to the ship The Sarazines much amazed thereat and euidently perceiuing that eyther they must yeeld or dy brought their Kings daughter vpon the prow of the ship most greeuously weeping and wringing her hands Then calling Gerbino to let him behold their resolution there they slew hir before his face and afterward throwing her body into the Sea said Take her there we giue her to thee according to our bounden duty and as thy periury hath iustly deserued This sight was not a little greeuous to the Prince Gerbino who madded now with this their monstrous cruelty and not caring what became of his owne life hauing lost her for whom hee onely desired to liue not dreading their Darts Arrowes slinged stones or what violence els they could vse against him he leapt aboord their ship in despight of all that durst resist him behauing himself there like a hunger-starued Lyon when he enters among a heard of beastes tearing their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes Such was the extreme fury of the poor Prince not sparing the like of any one that durst appeare in his presence so that what with the bloody slaughter and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could saue and suffering the Sea to swallow the rest Gerbino returned vnto his Gallies againe nothing proud of this so ill-gotten victory Afterward hauing recouered the Princesses dead body out of the Sea and enbalmed it with sighes and teares hee returned backe into Sicilie where he caused it to be most honourably buried in a little Island named Vstica face to face confronting Trapanum The King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes sent his Ambassadors habited in sad mourning to the aged King of Sicily complaining of his faith broken with him and how the accident had falne out Age being sodainly incited to anger and the King extreamly offended at this iniury seeing no way whereby to deny him iustice it being vrged so instantly by the Ambassadours caused Gerbino to be apprehended and hee himselfe in regard that none of his Lords and Barons would therein assist him but laboured to diuert them by their earnest importunity pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince and commanded to haue him beheaded in his presence affecting rather to dye without an heire then to be thought a King void of iustice So these two vnfortunate Louers neuer enioying the very least benefite of their long wished desires ended both their liues in violent manner The three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent manner brought away his head and putting it into a pot of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet hearbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares Whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she dyed with meere conceite of sorrow The fift Nouell Wherein is plainly proued that Loue cannot be rooted vppe by any humane power or prouidence especially in such a soule where it hath bene really apprehended THE Nouell of Madame Eliza being finished and some-what commended by the King in regard of the Tragicall conclusion Philomena was enioyned to proceede next with her discourse She beeing ouercome with much compassion for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino and his beautifull Princesse after an extreme and vehement sighe thus she spake My tale worthy Ladies extendeth not to persons of so high birth or quality as they were of whom Madame Eliza gaue you relation yet peraduenture it may prooue to be no lesse pittifull And now I remember my selfe Messina so lately spoken of is the place where this accident also happened In Messina there dwelt three yong men Brethren and Merchants by their common profession who becoming very rich by the death of theyr Father liued in very good fame and repute Their Father was of San Gemignano and they had a Sister named Isabella young beautifull and well conditioued who vpon some occasion as yet remained vnmaried A proper youth being a Gentleman borne in Pisa and named Lorenzo as a trusty factor or seruant had the managing of the Brethrens businesse and affaires This Lorenzo being of comely personage affable and excellent in his behauiour grew so gracious in the
of his comming thither or any other blame that could concerne her Which hee both instantly knowing and beleeuing made no more ceremonie but putting on his Garments tooke the dead bodie vpon his shoulders and carried it to the Mothers doore where he left it and afterward returned to his owne house againe When day light was come and the dead body found lying in the Porch it moued very much greefe and amazement considering he had bin seene the day before in perfect health to outward appearance Nor neede we to vrge any question of his Mothers sorrow vpon this straunge accident who causing his body to bee carefully searched without any blow bruise wound or hurt vppon it the Physitians could not giue any other opinion but that some inward conceyte of greefe had caused his death as it did indeed and no way otherwise To the cheefe Church was the dead body carried to be generally seene of all the people his mother and friends weeping heauily by it as many more did the like beside because he was beloued of euery one In which time of vniuersall mourning the honest man in whose house he dyed spake thus to his wife disguise thy selfe in some decent manner and go to the Church where as I heare they haue laide the body of Ieronimo Crowde in amongest the Women as I will doe the like amongst the men to heare what opinion passeth of his death and whether wee shall bee scandalized thereby or no. Siluestra who was now become full of pitty too late quickely condiscended as desiring to see him dead whom sometime she dearly affected in life And being come to the Church it is a matter to bee admired if aduisedly we consider on the powerfull working of loue for the heart of this woman which the prosperous fortune of Ieronimo could not pierce now in his wofull death did split in sunder and the ancient sparks of loue so long concealed in the embers brake foorth into a furious flame and being violently surprized with extraordinary compassion no sooner did she come neere to the dead body where many stoode weeping round about it but strangely shrieking out aloud she fell downe vpon it euen as extremity of greefe finished his life so did it hers in the same manner For she moued neither hand nor foot because her vitall powers had quite forsaken her The women labouring to comfort her by al the best means they could deuise did not take any knowledge of her by reason of her disguised garments but finding her dead indeede and knowing her also to be Siluestra being ouercome with vnspeakable compassion danted with no meane admiration they stood strangely gazing each vpon other Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church and this accident being now noysed among the men at length it came to her Husbands vnderstanding whose greefe was so great as it exceeded all capacitie of expression Afterward he declared what had hapned in his house the precedent night according as his wife had truly related to him with all the speeches which past between Siluestra and Ieronimo by which discourse they generally conceiued the certaine occasion of both their sodaine deaths which moued them to great compassion Then taking the yong womans body and ordering it as a coarse ought to bee they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous fortune they gaue them honourable buriall both in one graue So this poore couple whome loue in life could not ioyne together death did vnite in an inseparable coniunction Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom hee imagined to loue his wife gaue her his heart to eate Which she knowing afterward threw her selfe out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend The ninth Nouell Whereby appeareth what ill successe attendeth on them that loue contrarie to reason in offering iniurie both to friendship and marriage together WHen the Nouell of Madam Neiphila was ended which occasioned much compassion in the whole assembly the King who wold not infringe the priuiledge graunted to Dioneus no more remaining to speake but they two began thus I call to minde gentle Ladies a Nouell which seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of successelesse loue will vrge you vnto as much commisseration as that so lately reported to you And so much the rather because the persons of whom we are to speake were of respectiue quality which approueth the accident to bee more cruell then those whereof wee haue formerly discoursed According as the people of Prouence do report there dwelt sometime in that iurisdiction two noble Knights each well possessed of Castles followers the one beeing named Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione and the other Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno Now in regard that they wer both valiant Gentlemen and singularly expert in actions of Armes they loued together the more mutually and held it as a kinde of custom to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments or any other exercises of Armes going commonly alike in their wearing garments And although their Castles stood about fiue miles distant each from other yet were they dayly conuersant together as very louing and intimate friends The one of them I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione had to wife a very gallant beautifull Lady of whom Messer Guardastagno forgetting the lawes of respect and loyall friendshippe became ouer-fondly enamoured expressing the same by such outward meanes that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof and not with any dislike as it seemed but rather louingly entertained yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation as the other did of faith to his friend With such indiscretion was this idle loue carried that whether it sorted to effect or no I know not but the husband receiued some such maner of behauiour as hee could not easily digest nor thought it fitting to endure Whereuppon the league of friendly amity so long continued began to faile in very strange fashion and became conuerted into deadly hatred which yet hee very cunningly concealed bearing an outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still but in his heart hee had vowed the death of Guardastagno Nothing wanted but by what meanes it might best be effected which fell out to bee in this manner A publicke lust or Tourney was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all France wherewith immediately Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno entreating him that they might further conferre theron together and for that purpose to come and visit him if he intended to haue any hand in the businesse Guardastagno being exceeding gladde of this accident which gaue him liberty to see his Mistresse sent answer backe by the messenger that on the morrow at night he would come and sup with Rossiglione who vpon this reply proiected to himselfe in what maner to kill him On the morrow after dinner arming himselfe and
was much commended and wrought such a miracle on penitent Ruggiero that after his marriage which was graced with great and honourable pompe he regained the intimate loue of all his kindred and liued in most Noble condition euen as if he had neuer beene the disordered man If the former Nouels had made all the Ladies sad and sighe this last of Dioneus as much delighted them as restoring them to their former iocond humor and banishing Tragicall discourse for euer The King perceyuing that the Sun was neere setting and his gouernment as neere ending with many kinde and courteous speeches excused himselfe to the Ladies for being the motiue of such an argument as expressed the infelicity of poore Louers And hauing finished his excuse vp he arose taking the Crowne of Lawrell from off his owne head the Ladies awaiting on whose head he pleased next to set it which proued to be the gracious Lady Fiammetta and thus hee spake Heere I place this Crowne on her head that knoweth better then any other how to comfort this fayre assembly to morrow for the sorow which they haue this day endured Madame Fiammetta whose lockes of haire were curled long and like golden wiers hanging somwhat downe ouer her white delicate shoulders her visage round wherein the Damaske Rose and Lilly contendeâ— for priority the eyes in her head resembling those of the Faulcon me senger and a dainty mouth her lippes looking like two little Rubyes with a commendable smile thus she replyed Philostratus gladly I do accept your gift and to the end that ye may the better remember your selfe concerning what you haue done hitherto I will and commaund that generall preparation bee made against to morrow for faire and happy fortunes hapning to Louers after former cruell and vnkinde accidents Which proposition was very pleasing to them all Then calling for the Master of the Housholde and taking order with him what was most needfull to be done shee gaue leaue vnto the whole company who were all risen to go recreate themselues vntil supper time Some of them walked about the Garden the beauty whereof banished the least thought of wearinesse Others walked by the Riuer to the Mill which was not farre off and the rest fel to exercises fitting their own fancies vntill they heard the summons for Supper Hard by the goodly Fountaine according to their wonted manner they supped altogether and were serued to their no mean contentment but being risen from the Table they fell to their delight of singing and dancing While Philomena led the dance the Queene spake in this manner Philostratus I intend not to varie from those courses heeretofore obserued by my predecessors but euen as they haue already done so it is my authority to command a Song And because I am well assured that you are not vnfurnished of Songs answerable to the quality of the passed Nouels my desire is in regard we would not be troubled heereafter with any more discourses of vnfortunate Loue that you shall sing a Song agreeing with your owne disposition Philostratus made answer that he was readie to accomplish her command and without all further ceremony thus he began The Song Chorus My teares do plainly proue How iustly that poore heart hath cause to greeue Which vnder trust findes Treason in his Loue. WHen first I saw her that now makes me sigh Distrust did neuer enter in my thoughts So many vertues clearly shin'd in her That I esteem'd all martyrdome was light Which Loue could lay on me Nor did I greeue Although I found my liberty was lost But now mine error I do plainly see Not without sorrow thus betray'd to bee My teares do c. For being left by basest treachery Of her in whom I most reposed trust I then could see apparant flatterie In all the fairest shewes that she did make But when I stroue to get forth of the snare I found my selfe the further plunged in For I beheld another in my place And I cast off with manifest disgrace My teares do c. Then felt my heart such hels of heauy woes Not vtterable I curst the day and houre When first I saw her louely countenance Enricht with beautie farre beyond all other Which set my soule on fire enflamde each part Making a martyrdome of my poore hart My faith and hope being basely thus betrayde I durst not mooue to speake I was affrayde My teares do c. Thou canst thou powerfull God of Loue perceiue My ceasselesse sorow voide of any comfort I make my moane to thee and do not fable Desiring that to end my misery Death may come speedily and with his Dart With one fierce stroke quite passing through my hart To cut off future fell contending strife An happy end be made of Loue and Life My teares do c. No other meanes of comfort doth remaine To ease me of such sharpe afflictions But only death Grant then that I may die To finish greefe and life in one blest houre For being bereft of any future ioyes Come take me quickly from so false a friend Yet in my death let thy great power approue That I died true and constant in my Loue. My teares c. Happy shall I account this sighing Song If some beside my selfe doe learne to sing it And so consider of my miseries As may incite them to lament my wrongs And to be warned by my wretched fate Least like my selfe themselues do sigh too late Learne Louers learne what t is to be vniust And be betrayed where you repose best trust The words contained in this Song did manifestly declare what torturing afflictions poore Philostratus felt and more perhaps had beene perceiued by the lookes of the Lady whom he spake of being then present in the dance if the sodaine ensuing darknesse had not hid the crimson blush which mounted vp into her face But the Song being ended diuers other beside lasting till the houre of rest drew on by command of the Queene they all repaired to their Chambers The End of the Fourth Day THE FIFT DAY Whereon all the Discourses do passe vnder the Gouernement of the most Noble Lady Fiammetta Concerning such persons as haue bene successefull in their Loue after many hard and perillous misfortunes The Induction NOW began the Sunne to dart foorth his golden beames when Madam Fiammetta incited by the sweete singing Birdes which since the breake of day sat merrily chanting on the trees arose from her bed as all the other Ladies likewise did and the three young Gentlemen descending downe into the fields where they walked in a gentle pace on the greene grasse vntill the Sunne were risen a little higher On many pleasant matters they conferred together as they walked in seuerall companies til at the length the Queene finding the heate to enlarge it selfe strongly returned backe to the Castle where when they were all arriued shee commanded that after this mornings walking their stomackes should bee refreshed with wholsome Wines as
wife and for her he had presumed in that manner closely was he kept in prison till the next morning When he came into the Kings presence and there boldly iustified the goodnesse of his cause Restituta likewise was sent for who no sooner saw her deare Loue Guian but shee ran and caught him fast about the necke kissing him in teares and greeuing not a little at his hard fortune Hereat the King grew exceedingly enraged loathing and hating her now much more then formerly he did affect her and hauing himselfe seene by what strange meanes he did climbe ouer the wall and then mounted to her Chamber window he was extreamely impatient and could not otherwise be perswaded but that their meetings thus had beene very many Forthwith he sentenced them both with death commanding that they should be conueyed thence to Palermo and there being stript starke naked be bound to a stake backe to backe and so to stand the full space of nine houres to see if any could take knowledge of whence or what they were then afterward to be consumed with fire The sentence of death did not so much daunt or dismay the poore Louers as the vnciuill and vnsightly manner which in feare of the Kings wrathfull displeasure no man durst presume to contradict Wherefore as he had commanded so were they carried thence to Palermo and bound naked to a stake in the open Market place and before their eyes the fire and wood brought which was to consume them according to the houre as the King had appointed You need not make any question what an huge concourse of people were soone assembled together to behold such a sad and wofull spectacle euen the whole City of Palermo both men and women The men were stricken with admiration beholding the vnequalled beauty of faire Restituta the selfe same passion possessed the women seeing Guian to be such a goodly and compleat young man but the poore infortunate Louers themselues they stood with their lookes deiected to the ground being much pittied of all but no way to be holpen or rescued by any awaiting when the happy houre would come to finish both their shame and liues together During the time of this tragicall expectation the fame of this publike execution being noysed abroade calling all people farre and neere to behold it it came to the eare of Don Rogiero de Oria a man of much admired valour and then the Lord high Admirall of Sicily who came himselfe in person to the place appointed for their death First he obserued the Mayden confessing her in his soule to be a beauty beyond all compare Then looking on the young man thus he saide within himselfe If the inward endowments of the mind doe paralell the outward perfections of body the World cannot yeeld a more compleate man Now as good natures are quickly incited to compassion especially in cases almost commanding it and compassion knocking at the doore of the soule doth quicken the memory with many passed recordations so this noble Admirall aduisedly beholding poore condemned Guion conceiued that he had somewhat seene him before this instant and vpon this perswasion euen as if diuine vertue had tutured his tongue he saide Is not thy name Guion di Procida Marke now how quickly misery can receiue comfort vpon so poore and silly a question for Guion began to eleuate his deiected countenance and looking on the Admirall returned him this answere Sir heretofore I haue been the man which you spake of but now both that name and man must die with me What misfortune quoth the Admirall hath thus vnkindly crost thee Loue answered Guion and the Kings displeasure Then the Admirall would needs know the whole history at large which briefly was related to him and hauing heard how all had happened as he was turning his Horse to ride away thence Guion called to him saying Good my Lord entreate one fauour for me if possible it may be What is that replyed the Admirall You see Sir quoth Guion that I am very shortly to breathe my last all the grace which I doe most humbly entreate is that as I am here with this chaste Virgin whom I honour and loue beyond my life and miserably bound backe to backe our faces may be turned each to other to the end that when the fire shall finish my life by looking on her my soule may take her flight in full felicity The Admirall smyling saide I will doe for thee what I can and perhaps thou mayest so long looke on her as thou wilt be weary and desire to looke off her At his departure he commanded them that had the charge of this execution to proceede no further vntill they heard more from the King to whom hee gallopped immediately and although hee beheld him to be very angerly moued yet he spared not to speake in this manner Sir wherin haue those poore young couple offended you that are so shamefully to be burnt at Palermo The King told him whereto the Admirall pursuing still his purpose thus replyed Beleeue me Sir if true loue be an offence then theirs may be termed to be one and albeit it did deserue death yet farre be it from thee to inflict it on them for as faults doe iustly require punishment so doe good turnes as equally merit grace and requitall Knowest thou what and who they are whom thou hast so dishonourably condemned to the fire Not I quoth the King Why then I will tell thee answered the Admirall that thou mayest take the better knowledge of them and forbeare hereafter to be so ouer-violently transported with anger The young Gentleman is the Sonne to Landolfo di Procida the onely Brother to Lord Iohn di Procida by whose meanes thou becamest Lord and King of this Countrey The faire young Damosell is the Daughter to Marino Bolgaro whose power extendeth so farre as to preserue thy prerogatiue in Ischia which but for him had long since beene out-rooted there Beside these two maine motiues to challenge iustly grace and fauour from thee they are in the floure and pride of their youth hauing long continued in loyall loue together and compelled by feruency of endeared affection not any wil to displease thy Maiesty they haue offended if it may be termed an offence to loue and in such louely young people as they are Canst thou then find in thine heart to let them die whom thou rather oughtest to honour and recompence with no meane rewards When the King had heard this and beleeued for a certainty that the Admirall told him nothing but truth he appointed not onely that they should proceede no further but also was exceeding sorrowfull for what he had done sending presently to haue them released from the Stake and honourably to be brought before him Being thus enstructed in their seuerall qualities and standing in duty obliged to recompence the wrong which he had done with respectiue honours he caused them to be cloathed in royall garments and knowing them to
to be there when the Beast shall be sent for you I speake it the rather because it is cold weather and you Gentlemen Physitians can hardly endure it You are carefull of mee quoth the Doctor and I thanke you for it but I applaud my faire Starres I am none of your nice or easie-frozen fellowes because cold weather is very familiar to me I dare assure you when I arise in the night time for that naturall office whereto all men are subiect I weare no warmer defence then my thin wastcoat ouer my shirt and finde it sufficient for the coldest weather at any time When Bruno and Buffalmaco had taken their leaue the Physitian so soone as night drew neere vsed many apt excuses to his wife stealing forth his Scarlet Gowne and Hood vnseene of any wherewith being clothed at the time appointed he got vpon one of the Marble Tombes staying there quaking with cold awaiting when the Beast should come Buffalmaco being a lusty tall man of person had got an vgly masking suite such as are made vse of in Tragedies and Playes the out-side being of black shagged haire wherwith being cloathed he seemed like a strange deformed Beare and a Diuels vizard ouer his face with two gastly horrible hornes and thus disguised Bruno following him they went to behold the issue of the businesse so farre as the new Market place closely adioining to Santa Maria Nouella Hauing espyed Master Doctor vppon the Tombe Buffalmaco in his mishapen habite began to bound leape and carriere snuffling and blowing in mad and raging manner which when the Physitian saw his haire stood on end he quaked and trembled as being more fearfull then a Woman wishing himselfe at home againe in his house rather then to behold a sight so dreadfull But because he was come forth and had such an earnest desire to see the wonders related to him he made himselfe so coragious as possibly he could and bare all out in formall manner After that Buffalmaco had an indifferent while plaide his horse-trickes ramping and stamping somewhat strangely seeming as become of much milder temper he went neere to the Tomb whereon the Physitian stood and there appeared to stay contentedly Master Doctor trembling and quaking still extreamely was so farre dismayed as he knew not what was best to be done either to mount on the beasts backe or not to mount at all In the end thinking no harme could happen to him if he were once mounted with the second feare hee expelled the former and descending downe softly from the Tombe mounted on the beast saying out a lowde God Saint Dominicke and my good Angell helpe to defend mee Seating himselfe so well as he could but trembling still exceedingly he crossed his armes ouer his stomacke according to the Lesson giuen him Then did Buffalmaco shape his course in milde manner toward Santa Maria della Scala and groping to finde his way in the darke went on so farre as the Sisters of Ripole commonly called the Virgin Sanctuary Not farre off from thence were diuers trenches ditches wherein such men as are imployed in necessary night-seruices vsed to empty the Countesse di Cimillari and afterward imployed it for manuring Husbandmens grounds Buffalmaco being come neere one of them he stayed to breath himselfe awhile and then catching fast hold on one of the Doctours feete raysed him somewhat higher on his back for the easier discharging of his burthen and so pitched him with his head forwardes into the Lay-stall Then began he to make a dreadful kinde of noise stamping and trampling with his feete passing backe againe to Santa Maria della Scala and to Prato d'Ognissanti where hee met with Bruno who was constrained to forsake him because he could not refraine from lowde Laughter then both together went backe once more to see how the Physitian would behaue himselfe being so sweetely embrued Master Doctor seeing himselfe to ben in such an abhominable stinking place laboured with all his vtmost endeuouâ— to get himself released thence but the more he contended and stroue or getting forth he plunged himselfe the further in being most pitifully myred from head to foot sighing and sorrowing extraordinarily because much of the foule water entâ—ed in at his mouth In the end being forced to leaue his hood behinde him scrâ—mbling both with his hands and feet he got landing out of his stinking Labyrinth hauing no other means home he returned to his own house where knocking at the doore he was at length admitted entrance The doore being scarse made fast againe after his letting in Buffalmaco and Bruno were there arriued listning how M. Doctor should bee welcomd home by his angry wife who scolding and railing at him with wonderfull impatience gaue him most hard and bitter speeches terming him the vilest man liuing Where haue you bin Sir quoth she Are you becom a night-walker after other Women And could no worse garments serue your turne but your Doctors gown of Scarlet Am I to suffer this behauiour Or am not I sufficient to content you but you must be longing after change I would thou hadst bin stifled in that foule filth where thy fouler life did iustly cast thee Behold goodly Master Doctor of the Leystall who being maried to an honest woman must yet go abroad in the night time insatiatly lusting after whores and harlots With these and the like intemperate speeches she ceased not to afflict and torment him till the night was almost spent and the Doctor brought into a sweeter sauour The next morning Bruno and Buffalmaco hauing colourd their bodyes with a strange kinde of painting resembling blisters swellings and bruises as if they had bin extreamly beaten came to the Physitians house finding him to be newly vp al the house yet smelling of his foule sauour although it had bin very well perfumed and being admitted to him in the Garden hee welcommed them with the mornings salutations But Bruno and Buffalmaco being otherwise prouided for him deliuering stearne and angry lookes stamping and chafing Bruno thus replyed Neuer speake so faire and flattering to vs for we are moued beyond all compasse of patience All misfortunes in the worlde fall vpon you and an euill death may you dye like the most false and perfidious Traitor liuing on the earth We must beate our braines and moue all our most endeared friends onely for your honor and aduancement while wee were well neere starued to death in the cold like Dogs and by your breach of promise haue bin this night so extreamly beaten as if like Asses we should haue beene driuen to Rome But that which is most greeuous of all is danger of excluding out of the Society where wee tooke good order for your admittance and for your most honourable entertainment If you wil not credit vs behold our bodies and let your owne eyes be witnesses in what cruell manner we haue bin beaten So taking him aside vnder the Gallery where they might not be discouered by ouermuch
my constancie and vertue both which I finde conquered in me to my eternall confusion and shame But my best hope is that I shal shortly be requited as I haue in iustice deserued namely with death which will be a thousand times more welcome to me then a loathed life with remembrance of my base deiection in courage which because I can no longer conceale from thee not without blushing shame I am well contented for to let thee know it Then began hee to recount the whole occasion of this straunge conflict in him what a maine battaile hee had with his priuate thoughts confessing that they got the victory causing him to die hourely for the loue of Sophronia and affirming withall that in due acknowledgement how greatly hee had transgressed against the lawes of friendship he thought no other penance sufficient for him but onely death which he willingly expected euery houre and with all his heart would gladly bid welcome Gisippus hearing this discourse and seeing how Titus bitterly wept in agonies of most mouing afflictions sat an indifferent while sad and pensiue as being wounded with affection to Sophronia but yet in a well-gouerned and temperate manner So without any long delaying hee concluded with himselfe that the life of his friend ought to be accounted much more deare then any loue hee could beare vnto Sophronia And in this resolution the teares of Titus forcing his eyes to flow forth like two Fountaines thus he replyed Titus if thou hadst not neede of comfort as plainly I see thou hast I would iustly complaine of thee to my selfe as of the man who hath violated our friendship in keeping thine extreamitie so long time concealed from mee which hath beene ouer-tedious for thee to endure And although it might seeme to thee a dishonest case and therefore kept from the knowledge of thy friend yet I plainly tell thee that dishonest courses in the league of amitie deserue no more concealment then those of the honestest nature But leauing these impertinent wandrings let vs come to them of much greater necessitie If thou doest earnestly loue faire Sophronia who is betroathed and affianced to me it is no matter for me to maruaile at but I should rather be much abashed if thou couldst not intyrely affect her knowing how beautifull she is and the nobility of her minde being as able to sustaine passion as the thing pleasing is fullest of excellence And looke how reasonably thou fanciest Sophronia as vniustly thou complainest of thy fortune in ordaining her to be my wife although thou doest not speake it expresly as being of opinion that thou mightst with more honesty loue her if she were any others then mine But if thou art so wise as I haue alwayes held thee to be tell me truely vpon thy faith to whom could Fortune better guide her and for which thou oughtest to be more thankfull then in bestowing her on me Any other that had enioyed her although thy loue were neuer so honest yet he would better affect her himselfe then for thee which thou canst not in like manner looke for from me if thou doest account me for thy friend and as constant now as euer Reason is my warrant in this case because I cannot remember since first our entrance into friendship that euer I enioyed any thing but it was as much thine as mine And if our affaires had such an equall course before as otherwise they could not subsist must they not now be kept in the same manner Can any thing more perticularly appertaine to me but thy right therein is as absolute as mine I know not how thou maist esteeme of my friendship if in any thing concerning my selfe I can plead my priuiledge to be aboue thine True it is that Sophronia is affianced to me and I loue her dearely daily expecting when our nuptials shall be celebrated But seeing thou doest more feruently affect her as being better able to iudge of the perfections remaining in so excellent a creature as she is then I doe assure thy selfe and beleeue it constantly that she shall come to my bed not as my wife but onely thine And therefore leaue these despairing thoughts shake off this cloudy disposition reassume thy former Iouiall spirit with comfort and what else can content thee in expectation of the happy houre and the iust requitall of thy long louing and worthy friendship which I haue alwayes valued equall with mine owne life Titus hearing this answer of Gisippus looke how much the sweet hope of that which he desired gaue him pleasure as much both duty and reason affronted him with shame setting before his eyes this du consideration that the greater the liberality of Gisippus was farre greater and vnreasonable it appeared to him in disgrace if hee should vnmannerly accept it Wherefore being vnable to refrain from teares and with such strength as his weaknesse would giue leaue thus he replyed Gisippus thy bounty and firme friendship suffereth me to see apparantly what on my part is no more then ought to be done All the Gods forbid that I should receiue as mine her whom they haue adiudged to be thine by true respect of birth and desert For if they had thought her a wife fit for me doe not thou or any else imagine that euer she should haue beene granted to thee Vse freely therefore thine owne election and the gracious fauour wherewith they haue blessed thee leaue me to consume away in teares a mourning garment by them appointed for me as being a man vnworthy of such happinesse for either I shall conquer this disaster and that wil be my crowne or else will vanquish me and free me from all paine whereto Gisippus presently thus answered Worthy Titus if our amity would giue me so much licence as but to contend with my selfe in pleasing thee with such a thing as I desire and could also induce thee therein to be directed it is the onely end whereat I aime and am resolued to pursue it In which regard let my perswasions preuaile with thee and thereto I coniure thee by the faith of a friend suffer me to vse mine authority when it extendeth both to mine owne honour and thy good for I will haue Sophronia to bee onely thine I know sufficiently how farre the forces of loue doe extend in power and am not ignorant also how not once or twice but very many times they haue brought louers to vnfortunate ends as now I see thee very neere it and so farre gone as thou art not able to turne backe againe nor yet to conquer thine owne teares but proceeding on further in this extremity thou wilt be left vanquished sinking vnder the burthen of loues tyrannicall oppression and then my turne is next to follow thee And therefore had I no other reason to loue thee yet because thy life is deare to me in regard of mine owne depending thereon I stand the neerer thereto obliged For this cause Sophronia must and shal be thine for thou canst